Keppel Centre for Art Education at National Gallery Singapore features seven new interactive learning zones for children. Families can engage in highly sensory and tactile activities, as well as rest and read at new spaces.
Wander through the colourful spaces at the Keppel Centre for Art Education, inspired by the Gallery’s artworks. Kids can then express their own creativity through open-ended play.
“We want to encourage children to use their imagination, think critically, solve problems creatively, innovate, collaborate, and communicate,” said Ms Suenne Tan, Director, Education and Programmes, National Gallery Singapore.
And, it is with this in mind that National Gallery Singapore’s Keppel Centre for Art Education was created.
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Keppel Centre for Art Education at National Gallery Singapore: Art Encounters for Kids
Originally launched on 24 November 2015, the Keppel Centre for Art Education is an immersive learning facility designed as a space where young ones can experience, encounter and be enriched by art.
Located at the first level of National Gallery Singapore, the Keppel Centre for Art Education has been revamped and reopened to the public on 16 December 2023.
The centre features child-centric learning zones and activities revolving the theme of Art & Wonder: Nurturing Wonder through Play & Creativity.
National Gallery Singapore’s Well Loved Space for Children to Encounter Art
This child-centric section of National Gallery Singapore has always been a popular go-to for families.
With the latest refresh, visitors can experience new interactive and stimulating zones at the Keppel Centre for Art Education.
Do note that Keppel Centre for Art Education has a brand new entrance at the UOB City Hall Courtyard at Level One. Just follow the colourful lines that will lead you to the revamped space.
Here is what visitors can expect from the seven sections of the Keppel Centre for Art Education.
Keppel Centre for Art Education Highlights
A Brush with Forest Fire
Step into an interactive tropical forest. Pick up a brush and dip into paint pots as you paint!
This fantastical journey is inspired by Raden Saleh’s Boschbrand (Forest Fire).
Raden Saleh is known as one of the most important Indonesian artists of the 19th century.
Besides learning about colour theory, children will learn about environmental issues and different animals in Southeast Asia.
Don’t forget to draw rain in your desired patterns – whether it’s hearts or stars. The rain will help put out the forest fire.
Children are also invited to compose an artwork, then “clean” and return their brushes!
Illuminate!
This room filled with light tables and open-ended play objects will encourage visitors to explore art and experiment with colours, shapes, light and shadow.
Add your bright creations to the room using the large light tables.
Projectors reflect the masterpieces onto the walls, creating a whimsical space celebrating the creativity of visitors.
Aside from coloured tiles, coloured pebbles, coloured sashes and 3D shapes, visitors can even use torches to paint with light! You can also form shapes with your finger and hands for an even more extraordinary experience.
Portrait Gallery
Portraits are commonly seen in art galleries. Why portraits? They convey emotions, tell stories and give us a peek into the lives of the people they depict.
At the Keppel Centre for Art Education’s Portrait Gallery, children can create portraits using different facial features on magnetic props.
How would you pose in your own portrait? How does the person feel? Pose with a prop and look into a mirror. Aside from learning about emotions and facial features, portraits show how everyone is different and unique.
Parents and children can also role-play to create stories, look into the mirror and strike poses together. We can imagine lots of laughter and fun making portraits, putting on strange disguises while admiring each other’s new looks.
Makers Studio
Revolving around the theme of Experimentation, children can use 3D doodling pens and wooden shapes to create their own unique 3D sculptures inspired by artworks from the National Gallery Singapore’s collection.
Consistent with the open-ended play that is welcome in other sections, Keppel Centre for Art Education’s Makers Studio encourages free-ranging creativity.
Children get to work making their own sculptures and the relatively large wooden plates make it easy for the children to collaborate and create together!
Expression Workshop
Get all hands on deck to explore, create, imagine and play as a family. Pick up a paintbrush, mould some clay, gather materials to build a collage! How about making a hat and putting on some googly eyes for the mascots of the centre?
Families can also expect workshops every weekend at the Workshop Studio with drop-in activities, facilitated workshops and more.
Book Nook
We love the colourful Book Nook where parent and child can come together to bond over books. This is one way to rest and recharge in between play.
The themes of the books are based on ideas of creativity and design, and they are guaranteed to spark your child’s imaginations. It is a wonderful place to stop for a while and to enjoy some time absorbing some input and ideas about art and creativity.
Calm Pod
This is a place for visitors to rest if they feel over-stimulated or overwhelmed by their environment. In this soothing and safe space, visitors can take the time to calm down, regulate their feelings and renew their focus.
Little ones can also sit in the nooks or work on finger puppets.
Visit Keppel Centre for Art Education
While the Keppel Centre for Art Education is best suited for kids but it is also enjoyable to view the rest of the National Gallery Singapore’s collection, in particular the Singapore collection. The building that houses the National Gallery Singapore also has many different features that you should not miss out on either.
Therefore, if you enjoyed this story, we think that you will also enjoy this one on how to get the most out of your visit to National Gallery Singapore.
We also think that you will be interested to read about Singapore Art Museum’s Learning Gallery for kids.
