Singapore, famed as the Lion City, is home to some spectacular tourist attractions. Over the last decade, Singapore tourism has exponentially increased. From being the commercial hub of South East Asia, Singapore has blossomed into an ideal destination to plan a fun-filled holiday with family. Foreign nationals need to have a Singapore visa, also called a Singapore tourist visa. Those who visit Singapore cannot ignore the impact of establishments like Marina Bay Sands on its tourism. Marina Bay Sands is a destination for people who appreciate luxury and is notable for transforming the skyline of Singapore City.
There are more than 50 museums in Singapore, ranging from historical to toy museums. Wandering the halls and galleries of a well-curated museum is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon in a foreign city. Wandering the halls and galleries of a well-curated museum is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon in a foreign city. Singapore has museums for whatever suits your interests – contemporary art, rare stamps, military history, or toys. There is a museum in this Lion City to wow you! In Singapore, art galleries bring more variety to the local creative scene. One iconic structure that is part of the Marina Bay Sands resort, lining the waterfront promenade, is the ArtScience Museum Singapore.
The Architecture of the ArtScience Museum
The ArtScience Museum is an architectural wonder designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie at the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort, located on Bayfront Avenue. The lotus-shaped building symbolizes the outstretched, welcoming hand with its ten fingers. The fingers are the petals with a unique base that holds them together. Each finger features different gallery spaces, and the windows at the fingertips are curved dramatically, letting in natural light and illuminating the interior. The museum’s roof channels the rainwater from the atrium to the center of the building in a small reflecting pool. This collected rainwater is recycled for use in the building. The museum is surrounded by a large lily pond, where the light shines upwards from the building at night, creating a connection between the earth and the sky.
About the ArtScience Museum
The museum is known for hosting international exhibitions spanning 5000 square meters by partnering with renowned museums and galleries. Step into an immersive world of art, science, technology, and culture at the ArtScience Museum. Enjoy a multi-sensory experience through interactive artwork and impressive digital installations. The museum houses a permanent exhibit, Future World: Where Art Meets Science. The Future World’s story unfolds through four narratives – Sanctuary, City in a Garden, Park, and Space. Have an immersive journey through the kaleidoscopic world and media design studios in Virtual Realms. Dive into the world of sound art projects at Orchestral maneuvers.
Galleries in the Museum
With twenty-one gallery spaces, large-scale exhibitions have been held since its opening in February 2011 by some of the world’s best-known artists like Vincent van Gogh, Leonardo Da Vinci, Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali, and M.C. Escher. Artifacts from the Titanic and items from the Harry Potter sets have been displayed earlier in the museum.
The permanent exhibitions in the museum are distributed into separate galleries based on different themes. Visitors enter Curiosity via a floating staircase. Inside you will find information about the thoughts and ideas considered when creating the ArtScience building. Upstairs is the Inspiration gallery. This multimedia room focuses on six objects, including Leonardo Da Vinci’s flying machine, both a work of art and a forward-thinking scientific concept that helped in shaping the world of today. At the highest point is the Expression, a cinematic presentation emphasizing some great triumphs of art and science, including robots, flights, buildings, and maps.
On Going Exhibitions & Events
1) Future World: Where Art Meets Science
Immerse yourself into a world of art, science, magic, and metaphor through a collection of digital interactive installations.
Operating Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
2) New Eden: Science Fiction Mythologies Transformed.
This new-age mythology genre is specially built to depict patriarchy and men. You will see a less-seen mixture of Asian women, their matching traditions with Asia, the idea of utopia, spirituality, and parallel worlds.
Operating Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. till 3rd March 2024.
3) Mars: The Red Mirror
Through this exhibition, the curator, Juan Insua, seeks to make the viewers aware of the contribution of Asian countries towards Mars’ expedition, their legacy, and their contribution to research and science related to the neighboring planet.
Operating Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. till 7th April 2024.
4) Ocean Imagineer: ArtScience Residency – Cesar Jung-Harada
This residency features the scientist’s in-depth exploration of ocean technologies with the aim of inspiring future generations to protect the environment and create solutions for climate crisis combat.
Operating Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
5) ArtScience Encounters with Kin Leonn: Ceaseless Benevolence in The Eye of The Cascade
This special event features a 20-minute composition with ambient sound installation to showcase the artists’ understanding of life and the natural world through electronic & organic instrument recordings.
Operating Hours: Various Timings.
6) Movie Screenings
The museum also features movies with a touch of science or not, based upon their differing genres, every month. This February 2024, they are screening movies that deal with loneliness in big cities, like ‘Her’, ‘The Worst Person in the World’, and ‘The Unbelievable Truth’.
Operating Hours: Various Timings.
Explore Around the Future World Exhibition
When people talk about the ArtScience Museum, it is always associated with the Future World Exhibition, which is one of the major reasons why visitors are encouraged to explore it. Without a doubt, Future World is a star among families and even groups of friends. The Future World exhibits consists of four themes: City in a Garden, Sanctuary, Park, and Space. Each of these boasts a distinct yet equally spellbinding experiences. Following are the must-see attractions at Future World.
Sketch Town: A place where you and your children can travel through imaginary world by sketching. Sketch is located in the Park Section, a fictional town surrounded by iconic landmarks. The major highlight of these places is that drawings can actually become part of a virtual town!
Transcending Boundaries: Get lost in an extremely enchanted exhibit of interactive works. Transcending is a sanctuary packed with nature-like spectacles where you venture through six installations, witnessing the images dissolve while connecting to the next display.
Inverted Globe: Inverted Globe is a giant connecting block town where kids love to expand their imagination. The place allows you to create your own transport system and desired cityscape. Kids can use giant blocks to create rivers, railways, and more.
Sketch Aquarium: If you are a marine art lover, Sketch Aquarium is a must-visit attraction. Visit this virtual underwater world filled with various marine species, but this isn’t your normal aquarium. Here, you can personalise these aquatic creatures through your drawings and see your creation swimming on the screen.
Fruit Field: A fun playground at the ArtScience Museum, Fruit Field combines physical activity with technology. Let your little ones glide and slide down the vibrant, colourful slide powered by digital installations as each descending movement transforms into a beaming display of vivid art.
100 Years Sea: 100 Years Sea is more than just a beautiful digital display. Watch the effects of global warming through a captivating video featuring Japanese art. These animations highlight the increase in the levels of the sea due to the changing climate.
Proliferating Immense Life: You are welcomed to one of the newest additions to the City in a Garden, Proliferating Immense Life: A Whole Year Per Year. This amazing installation is a mesmerising presentation of the cycle of flowers, showing how the flowers blossom, grow, and die in response to the change of seasons throughout the year.
Light Ball Orchestra: How about combining colours and sounds? Light Ball Orchestra is where you can play with the beach-sized balls that change colours when touched, and once you come into contact with them, they produce a unique sound. So enjoy it and collaborate with other people to create beautiful melodies.
Sketch Piston: Discover your music skills with Sketch Piston, where you create your own melody through the colourful installations on the screen. The digital icons produce different sounds, so you can choose whatever you want. Gather your friends and family to create a fascinating symphony.
A Table Where Little People Live: Step into the world of miniatures. ‘A Table Where Little People Live’ is one of the unique attractions in Future World that allows you to interact with tiny, virtual people on the table. Just place your hand on the screen and notice how the small digital characters react to your movements.
Crystal Universe: Packed with bright light particles, Crystal Universe is the highlight of the Space theme. Enter the sparkling world powered by over 170000 LED lights, and see a jaw-dropping illusion of moving stars as a result of these thousands of illuminations.
Story of Time When Gods were Eveywhere: Pour your creativity into this digital world that lets you craft something like it’s your first day in the universe. With no restrictions to draw, create your own elements like rain, flowers, stars, and anything else you can possibly think of.
The Way of the Birds: As you enter this sanctuary, peace will embrace your soul. Watch the movement of digital birds as these creatures react to the presence of the viewers —flying gorgeously and even diversifying the viewer’s area before they disappear.
ArtScience Museum Tickets
The ArtScience Museum holds many exhibitions. Some are free, while most of them require an entry fee.
1) Single Exhibition Ticket (Any One Exhibition)
Standard: Adult: SGD 19, Concession: SGD 14
Local: Adult: SGD 16, Concession: SGD 12
2) Double Exhibition Ticket (Any Two Exhibition)
Standard: Adult: SGD 32, Concession: SGD 25
Local: Adult: SGD 27, Concession SGD 20
3) Triple Exhibition Ticket (Any Three Exhibitions)
Standard: Adult: SGD 50, Concession: SGD 38
Local: Adult: SGD 43, Concession: SGD 34
4) VR Gallery: We Live in an Ocean of Air
Standard: Adult: SGD 19, Concession: SGD 14
Local: Adult: SGD 16, Concession: SGD 12
The Concession ticket category includes children (2-12 years), senior citizens, students, and people with disabilities.
- Admission fee includes booking fee, admission, and taxes.
- The ticket allows only one-time entry to the exhibition, re-entry on the same day, and complimentary access to Level 4 galleries.
- Charges may vary for special exhibitions.
- You can book the ArtScience Museum tickets online through the official website. Offline, you can purchase the tickets from the ArtScience Museum Box Office or any of the Marina Bay Sands Box Offices.
How to get there
- Via Car: ArtScience Museum is around 16.1 km from Singapore City Centre. You can reach the destination in 30 minutes.
- Via Bus: The nearest bus stop to the museum is Opp The Ritz-Cartlon.
- Via Metro: the nearest metro station is Bayfront.
Galleries and museums in Singapore are not just places to be inspired but also home to a diverse range of memorabilia, curate well-designed pieces that reflect your personality that you can take home and keep as a remembrance of your time on this island. The ArtScience Museum in Singapore is a great journey of discovery for kids and adults alike.
Opening Hours: The museum operates daily from 10 am to 7 PM.
Important things to note while visiting the Art Science Museum Singapore
- On arrival, a museum ambassador receives the group. It is important to arrive early, as a group late for more than 20 minutes will not be permitted for their facilitated visit.
- There is a 10-minute walk to the museum from the coach drop-off spot at the Sand Expo & Conventional Centre.
- Before the visit, a 15-minute meet-and-greet is mandatory for their sessions and workshops.
- Workshops and guided tours can only be utilized from Tuesday to Thursday with specific time slots: 10:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 4:00 p.m.
- Self-guided visits to the exhibitions last about one hour.
- The duration of a guided tour or workshop is three hours, with 2 for free time and 1 for the guided tour.
- The guided tours and workshops are allocated a total of three hours, inclusive of a washroom break.
- The museum also embraces a shop with exhibition-inspired and merchandised clothing, gifts, books, apparel, and many other options to get a souvenir.
- Though the museum stays prepared for any injury or accident with medical kits and AEDs, it is still suggested to be careful. In case of any mishap, connect with the staff nearby for assistance.
Food at the Art Science Museum Singapore
The museum has a cafe to serve food and beverages. If you have brought your own food, you may eat it near the Lily Pond or the Level 1 rain Oculus. The cafe has kid-friendly healthy food, including gluten-free chicken, fruits, and fresh juices.
Make sure you follow the map provided on the official Marine Bay Sands website to located designated dining areas.
FAQs
1. Why visiting the Art Science Museum Singapore Worth it?
The ArtScience Museum is one of Singapore’s most iconic landmarks, combining the worlds of art and science. Here, you get to explore both feilds, inspiring creativity and gaining loads of knowledge.
2. What should I wear to the ArtScience Museum Singapore?
There is no dress code for the museum. It is usually cold, so it is best to carry a jacket if you get chilled easily.
3. Is visiting the Art Science Museum in Singapore Worth It?
Yes! If you are an avid art and science enthusiast and want to explore fascinating scientific masterpieces, the ArtScience Museum Singapore is totally worth it.
4. What is special about the Art Science Museum in Singapore?
The most special thing about this museum is the unique amalgamation of science, art, and technology that showcases the innovative era that we live in and respect the history we have been through together.
5. Is the Art Science Museum Singapore free?
A casual visit to the museum is free, but discovering various exhibitions and events comes with a price. Some might be free of charge, and the prices vary with every such exhibition.
6. How much time should I except to spend at the Art Science Museum Singapore?
Including arrival from the pick-up point, a meet-and-greet and exploration of the museum, a two- to three-hour visit is enough for you to gaze at and gain the significance of this institution.
Conclusion
Now that you have taken a glimpse of the must-visit reasons for Art Science Museum Singapore, do not dwell much and head to the wonderfully tech-field museum at the Marine Bay Islands. It has everything for every age group, be it children or anyone else; it is enough to inspire you and your group with innovation, technology, and intellectual contribution.