In 2021, the Singapore Philatelic Museum (SPM), which is currently closed for redevelopment, will re-open as a dedicated children’s museum, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) Grace Fu announced.

Speaking at MCCY's Committee of Supply debate on Mar. 6, Fu elaborated that children will be able to "learn about a wide range of themes, including the heritage and culture of Singapore and the region, by playing with interactive and immersive exhibits."

Develop common values and a shared national identity from a young age

According to the National Heritage Board (NHB), the new children’s museum will serve as a “starter museum” to introduce young visitors and their families to the museum-going experience, and offer children’s programming all year round.

Targeted at children aged 12 and below, it will also present them with the opportunity to learn about themselves, their nation and their place in the world, and develop common values and a shared national identity from a young age.

For instance, there will be a permanent exhibition on “Singapore, Our Home”, where children can learn how early pioneers lived and worked, and role-play as hawkers, coolies and merchants, Fu revealed.

There will also be a special exhibition titled "Happy Birthday, Singapore!", which invites children to go behind-the-scenes to experience the planning of a National Day parade, where they will get to design parade costumes and a fireworks display.

New museum will partner overseas children's museums

Meanwhile, SPM’s philatelic collection will continue to be used alongside other artefacts to support children’s learning in the new museum.

Stamps make excellent educational resources for children who find them attractive and accessible, NHB added, and they will be part of the museum’s refreshed permanent galleries and special exhibitions.

SPM will also complement National Gallery Singapore’s Keppel Centre for Art Education and Singapore Science Centre’s KidsSTOP, among others to create a more diverse and vibrant museum scene in Singapore.

Finally, the new children's museum will partner leading children’s museums overseas to exchange and benchmark best practices and pedagogy, as well as to bring meaningful children-focused exhibitions to Singapore.

Top image courtesy of Singapore Philatelic Museum.