S'pore Chinese Heritage Gallery to open in 2031, public invited to shape its content

A new Singapore Chinese Heritage Gallery (SCHG) will open at the Singapore Conference Hall in 2031, showcasing the history, heritage, and contributions of Singapore's Chinese community as part of the country's shared multicultural heritage.

It will be established by the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC), with support from the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the National Heritage Board.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong first announced the plans during his Mandarin speech at the National Day Rally on Aug. 23.

Gallery to open in 2031

In a media release on Aug. 25, SCCC said engagements with key community leaders, clan associations, docents, youths, and students since mid-2025 showed support for a dedicated gallery offering a broad overview of the history, heritage and contributions of Singapore's Chinese community.

Feedback highlighted three key areas: presenting a balanced and historically grounded account, making the content inclusive and relatable to different audiences, as well as creating engaging experiences.

The gallery will trace the Chinese Singaporean experience from before the 14th century to the present day through six themes:

1. Ports and Trade in Early Singapore (Pre-14th century to early 1800s)
2. Chinese Settlements in British Empire (1819 to 1870s)
3. Cultural Convergence: Institutions and Networks (1900s to 1942)
4. Tides of Change (1877 to 1965)
5. The Chinese Community in Post-Independence Singapore (1965 to 1980s)
6. Chinese Singaporean in a Global City (1980s to present day)

SCCC said the gallery will complement existing heritage institutions and exhibitions, including its SINGAPO 人 Permanent Exhibition, which explores the evolution of contemporary Chinese culture and identity in Singapore.

The centre will also be engaging other cultural institutions and key stakeholder groups to gather diverse perspectives and anchor the gallery in the country's multi-cultural context.

Public invited to shape gallery

SCCC will be launching a travelling exhibition, titled Have Your Say: Co-conceptualising the Singapore Chinese Heritage Gallery, to gather public feedback on the gallery's content and presentation.

The exhibition will be held at Chinatown Point from Aug. 25 to Sep. 11, followed by One Punggol from Sep. 12 to Oct. 2.

It will subsequently travel to other venues, including shopping malls, public libraries, community hubs, schools, and community centres.

Ng Siew Quan, the chairman of SCCC, said the gallery would be an "important milestone project" for the local Chinese community, and help strengthen a sense of belonging among Chinese Singaporeans, while highlighting values such as resilience, diligence, patriotism, and communal spirit.

Historian and SCHG Advisory Panel member Kua Bak Lim said the gallery could serve as a "central unifying node", bringing together stories and materials from different museums, clans, and community organisations.

SCCC Youth Force member Koh Horn Ray also said the gallery could also provide youths with a relevant and accessible way to learn about their heritage and understand how the Chinese Singaporean identity has evolved over time.