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In The Spotlight
NUS Museum Lauded for Innovatice Museological Practice
NUS Museum has received the University Museums and Collections (UMAC) Award from the International Council of Museums for prep-room, an exploration of curatorial methods and audience engagement.
The award, which recognises the most significant innovation or practice that has proved successful in a university museum or collection, was received by the Head of NUS Museum, Mr Ahmad Mashadi, in Milan on 6 July at the 24th International Council of Museums General Conference.
prep-room began in 2011 as an open gallery where curators employed archival materials to present content, curatorial experiments and design ideas, inviting visitors to observe the exhibition-making process, engage with content, and potentially begin a long-term interest in the project.
The inaugural prep-room was inspired by an interest in Raffles Lighthouse located at Pulau Satumu (Singapore). There, visitors could access how curators and collaborators spent eight months sourcing, categorizing and visually mapping archival materials ranging from 15th century cartographic maps to 19th century governmental declarations. This prep-room developed into a long-term collaboration with Singaporean artist Charles Lim Yi Yong, which resulted in three exhibitions.
A total of ten projects have been incubated as prep-rooms at the Museum since.
“In the prep-room, internships, mentorships and encounters bridge knowledges, disciplines, experiences, and even sensibilities in the hope of producing something surprising. Creating diverse sites of learning and means of accessing the processes of exhibition-making, the prep-room is an effort toward dispelling traditional understandings and practices of museum engagement,” says Ahmad Mashadi, Head of NUS Museum.
Two projects are currently incubated as prep-rooms – OPEN EXCESS and CONCRETE ISLAND. The former probes the immense book donation in 2014 by eminent art historian TK Sabapathy. Members of the public are invited to contribute to a writing project on Southeast Asian art history, one of Sabapathy’s key research interests. The prep-room for CONCRETE ISLAND, a project considering the metaphor of Singapore as a ‘concrete island’, has led to the development of multiple programmes, exhibitions as well as a publication reader.
18 November 2025
16 May 2025
NUS Baba House to undergo two years of conservation works
Enthusiasts can look forward to a slate of programmes ahead of and during the temporary closure.
6 October 2023
NUS Museum receives largest-ever donation of Straits Chinese artefacts
"Collected by Mrs Alice Tan over a 30-year period, the donated artefacts will contribute to a deeper study of the impact of Straits Chinese culture in Singapore and the region, and provide broadened avenues for interdisciplinary collaborations."
15 August 2023
From personal photo collection to exhibition: NUS Museum's latest showcase features visual narratives by 9 members of the NUS community
Titled Photography Journal Open Call (PJOC), the exhibition presents an eclectic collection of photographic works by nine NUS students, alumni artists and academic staff.
12 April 2021
Nurturing a creative campus through public art advocacy
The Public Art Initiative was launched to underscore NUS’ commitment to deepening the role of public art in holistic, interdisciplinary and broad-based education.
8 October 2019
October at the NUS Museum: between war and the artist, art and the tropics
This October, NUS Museum unveils two new exhibitions surveying the art historical in the region from distinct positions.
31 May 2019
New exhibition from Gilles Massot to be unveiled at NUS Museum
“…you have to lose your way to find yourself in the right place” presents the works of Singapore-based French artist, Gilles Massot. Featuring a selection of photographs, videos, sketches and writings from his extensive corpus of works.
14 February 2019
Glossaries of the Straits Chinese Homemaking
Following eleven years of giving glimpses of a Peranakan family’s domestic life in the early 20th century, NUS Baba House presents the exhibition Glossaries of the Straits Chinese Homemaking.
22 March 2018
NUS' cultural icon refreshed for a new generation
The University Cultural Centre's first major renovation improves the high standard of guest comfort, efficiency and production possibilities.
3 February 2017
Exhibition: From the Ashes: Reviving Myanmar Celadon Ceramics
NUS Museum presents ongoing attempts to revive the technology of making ash-glazed ceramics in Myanmar.
23 November 2016
Exhibition: Between the brush lines of Lim Tze Peng
Solo exhibition at NUS Museum considers 70-year oeuvre of Singapore's oldest living artist.
1 November 2016
Book Launch: NUS Baba House launches inaugural guidebook
From architecture to social history, book reveals the myriad facets of Singapore's only restored Straits Chinese family home.
21 October 2016
Exhibition: Looking within - What makes an exhibition?
NUS Museum presents exhibition introspecting into curatorial impulses and the exhibitionary medium.
1 July 2016
Exhibition: "Who wants to remember a war?"
NUS Museum draws on war posters, woodcuts and drawings to explore contemporary narratives of the Vietnam War.
10 May 2016
Award: NUS Museum wins inaugural award for innovative museological practice
International Committee of University Museums and Collections recognises efforts to facilitate conversation between audiences and exhibitions.
14 April 2016
Exhibition: Figuring Ng Eng Teng
NUS Museum reveals unstudied elements and works from the late Cultural Medallion recipient’s practice.
Student Voices
NUS Museum Lauded for Innovatice Museological Practice
NUS Museum has received the University Museums and Collections (UMAC) Award from the International Council of Museums for prep-room, an exploration of curatorial methods and audience engagement.
The award, which recognises the most significant innovation or practice that has proved successful in a university museum or collection, was received by the Head of NUS Museum, Mr Ahmad Mashadi, in Milan on 6 July at the 24th International Council of Museums General Conference.
prep-room began in 2011 as an open gallery where curators employed archival materials to present content, curatorial experiments and design ideas, inviting visitors to observe the exhibition-making process, engage with content, and potentially begin a long-term interest in the project.
The inaugural prep-room was inspired by an interest in Raffles Lighthouse located at Pulau Satumu (Singapore). There, visitors could access how curators and collaborators spent eight months sourcing, categorizing and visually mapping archival materials ranging from 15th century cartographic maps to 19th century governmental declarations. This prep-room developed into a long-term collaboration with Singaporean artist Charles Lim Yi Yong, which resulted in three exhibitions.
A total of ten projects have been incubated as prep-rooms at the Museum since.
“In the prep-room, internships, mentorships and encounters bridge knowledges, disciplines, experiences, and even sensibilities in the hope of producing something surprising. Creating diverse sites of learning and means of accessing the processes of exhibition-making, the prep-room is an effort toward dispelling traditional understandings and practices of museum engagement,” says Ahmad Mashadi, Head of NUS Museum.
Two projects are currently incubated as prep-rooms – OPEN EXCESS and CONCRETE ISLAND. The former probes the immense book donation in 2014 by eminent art historian TK Sabapathy. Members of the public are invited to contribute to a writing project on Southeast Asian art history, one of Sabapathy’s key research interests. The prep-room for CONCRETE ISLAND, a project considering the metaphor of Singapore as a ‘concrete island’, has led to the development of multiple programmes, exhibitions as well as a publication reader.
News
18 November 2025
16 May 2025
NUS Baba House to undergo two years of conservation works
Enthusiasts can look forward to a slate of programmes ahead of and during the temporary closure.
6 October 2023
NUS Museum receives largest-ever donation of Straits Chinese artefacts
"Collected by Mrs Alice Tan over a 30-year period, the donated artefacts will contribute to a deeper study of the impact of Straits Chinese culture in Singapore and the region, and provide broadened avenues for interdisciplinary collaborations."
15 August 2023
From personal photo collection to exhibition: NUS Museum's latest showcase features visual narratives by 9 members of the NUS community
Titled Photography Journal Open Call (PJOC), the exhibition presents an eclectic collection of photographic works by nine NUS students, alumni artists and academic staff.
12 April 2021
Nurturing a creative campus through public art advocacy
The Public Art Initiative was launched to underscore NUS’ commitment to deepening the role of public art in holistic, interdisciplinary and broad-based education.
8 October 2019
October at the NUS Museum: between war and the artist, art and the tropics
This October, NUS Museum unveils two new exhibitions surveying the art historical in the region from distinct positions.
31 May 2019
New exhibition from Gilles Massot to be unveiled at NUS Museum
“…you have to lose your way to find yourself in the right place” presents the works of Singapore-based French artist, Gilles Massot. Featuring a selection of photographs, videos, sketches and writings from his extensive corpus of works.
14 February 2019
Glossaries of the Straits Chinese Homemaking
Following eleven years of giving glimpses of a Peranakan family’s domestic life in the early 20th century, NUS Baba House presents the exhibition Glossaries of the Straits Chinese Homemaking.
22 March 2018
NUS' cultural icon refreshed for a new generation
The University Cultural Centre's first major renovation improves the high standard of guest comfort, efficiency and production possibilities.
3 February 2017
Exhibition: From the Ashes: Reviving Myanmar Celadon Ceramics
NUS Museum presents ongoing attempts to revive the technology of making ash-glazed ceramics in Myanmar.
23 November 2016
Exhibition: Between the brush lines of Lim Tze Peng
Solo exhibition at NUS Museum considers 70-year oeuvre of Singapore's oldest living artist.
1 November 2016
Book Launch: NUS Baba House launches inaugural guidebook
From architecture to social history, book reveals the myriad facets of Singapore's only restored Straits Chinese family home.
21 October 2016
Exhibition: Looking within - What makes an exhibition?
NUS Museum presents exhibition introspecting into curatorial impulses and the exhibitionary medium.
1 July 2016
Exhibition: "Who wants to remember a war?"
NUS Museum draws on war posters, woodcuts and drawings to explore contemporary narratives of the Vietnam War.
10 May 2016
Award: NUS Museum wins inaugural award for innovative museological practice
International Committee of University Museums and Collections recognises efforts to facilitate conversation between audiences and exhibitions.
14 April 2016
Exhibition: Figuring Ng Eng Teng
NUS Museum reveals unstudied elements and works from the late Cultural Medallion recipient’s practice.
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