Need a little (or a lot of) heritage and culture to inspire you this National Day? Sing along to your National Day favourites with our online performances, listen to poignant stories of heart and home, and get your head and your hands ready for our games and activities. Stay #unitedthroughculture on Singapore’s 56th birthday with the National Heritage Board!
Culture TV
Looking for something to do over the long National Day weekend (and the rest of August)? We’ve got you covered! With videos that range from the poignant to the playful, from the entertaining to the educational, there’s something for everyone!
Where: National Museum of Singapore's Facebook Page
Date: 9 August 2021
Time: 2pm - 2.30pm
Very Special Arts Singapore presents StrawberryStory, made up of visually impaired artists Ivni and Wai Yee. The duo will delight with their take of some of our favourite National Day tunes, and inspire with their their strong camaraderie and tongue-in-cheek stories.
For more information/registration details: go.gov.sg/nmsnd21
Where: National Museum of Singapore's Facebook Page
Date: 9 August 2021
Time: 4pm - 4.30pm
Savour Open Score Project’s unique sound, is an eclectic mix of musical cultures from around the world, as they bring you a repertoire that includes National Day favourites Singapore Sunny Island and Bunga Sayang!
For more information/registration details: go.gov.sg/nmsnd21
Where: National Museum of Singapore's Facebook Page
Date: 8 August 2021
Time: 4pm - 4.30pm
Be serenaded by the Silver Songbirds, a group of active seniors who are passionate about singing and theatre, as they perform National Day classics like Count on Me, Singapore and Stand Up for Singapore.
For more information/registration details: go.gov.sg/nmsnd21
Where: Malay Heritage Centre's Facebook Page
Date: 4 August 2021
Time: 8.30pm
Rentak Warisan Bersama Sri Mahligai takes you on a musical journey of Singapore’s transition from colony to independent nation with unique renditions of songs like Singapura Waktu Malam and Di Waktu Petang Di Geylang Serai to celebrate National Day!
Listen to the renditions here: Indian Heritage Centre, Malay Heritage Centre, Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, Combined
No birthday is complete without a song! Our heritage institutions celebrate with “We Are Singapore”, played with traditional Indian, Malay and Chinese instruments in never-before-heard arrangements!
Singapore became an independent country on 9 August, 1965. One year later, a nation came together to celebrate at the first National Day Parade. Listen to the stories behind this historic event.
Join our storyteller, Benjamin Kheng as he takes you on an adventure through time in this tale, ‘Attack of the Swordfish’.
A video that charts the origins of Chinese Rhymes amongst the various Chinese dialect communities, and how they were important forms of oral traditions handed down from one generation to another. The rhymes were not just all fun and games, with them also touching on topics such as the Second World War.
Well-known for Indian food such as briyani and prata, the 24-hour restaurant is well-known for its affordable and authentic Indian food. Check out the dance interpretation of Al-Jilani's offerings by local dance group, D’Aura.
Located at Waterloo Street, Warung Ramlah Muslim Food sells affordable nasi campur (Malay mixed rice) with accompanying dishes such as ayam lemak cili padi and rendang. Check out the dance interpretation of Warung Ramlah's offerings by local dance group, D'Kingsman.
Culture Stories
Learn more about what makes Singapore, Singapore through these stories and perspectives of Singaporeans from all walks of life.
@ Home, Truly follows Nadine and her Gong Gong (Mandarin for “grandfather”) as they relive the highs, lows, and moments in between of Singapore’s journey. This new chapter invites you to discover the secret histories of our bus system, the Singapore River, national campaigns (complete with mascots) and more!
8 Aug | 10am – 11am | Find Out More
What is home to you? Follow Shan Shan and Hadi as they relive fond memories of how Singapore has become a home for each and every one of us, and discover what makes Singapore home, truly. The 35-minute guided promenade performance* of the Home, Truly: Growing Up with Singapore, 1950s to the Present special exhibition will be followed by a 30-minute live dialogue session with the director and actors.
7 Aug | 11am – 12.30pm | Email to register
What does it take to build a home in Singapore? In this special run of our Home, Truly Zoom Tour for seniors, our Care Facilitator volunteers go on a walk down memory lane to discover some of the personal stories of those who call Singapore home.
This programme is suitable for senior participants, and is held in conjunction with the exhibition Home, Truly: Growing Up with Singapore, 1950s to the Present. The tour will be conducted in English.
Where: Indian Heritage Centre's Facebook Page
Date: 9 August 2021
Time: 6pm
Catch local comedians Kumar and Siti Khalijah having a hearty conversation about what culture and heritage mean to them while serving up a savoury Indian dish that is well-loved by Singaporeans.
9 Aug | 10am – 10.30am | Find Out More
In this interactive storytelling session based on the popular children’s book Timmy & Tammy: What Is Singapore?, families will hear from four interesting characters who have each chosen an object to represent Singapore. Take part in fun activities the characters have prepared in their quest to decide which “Singapore” resonates best with them!
This programme is presented in conjunction with the Home, Truly: Growing Up with Singapore, 1950s to the Present special exhibition.
Hawker Culture in Singapore was inscribed as Singapore's first element on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural of Humanity on 16 Dec 2020.
Find out what this means to Singaporeans and listen to our promises to safeguard it for future generations.
National Monument owners and occupiers tell their stories and offer their well-wishes to Singapore in this video on her 55th birthday.
In 1929, a rickshaw boy would go to the St Andrew’s Mission Hospital every day to help a young nurse carry patients up the stairs. This is their story, across ethnicity, class and time.
Peel back layers of time at the old Police Coast Guard Headquarters to reveal unspoken dreams and aspirations, the sacrifices of a father, and his heart for his son.
Is being too familiar a bad thing? Two students find their notions of culture and belonging challenged as they navigate one of Singapore’s most well-loved neighbourhoods.
Culture Playroom
Get into the National Day spirit with these games and activities the whole family can enjoy, anytime, anywhere!
9 Aug | 10am | Facebook & Website
Celebrate Singapore’s 56th birthday with the Asian Civilisations Museum through a host of adventures! Discover objects in an online trail that tell stories of Singapore’s history and listen to a medley of well-loved National Day tunes. Be inspired by the lush greenery around ACM and in our garden city. Share a photo of your pet plant or a favourite plant or flower found in Singapore. For a taste of home, download a recipe card and try making your own kaya spread.
9 Aug | 12pm | PLAY NOW
The Padang has been a site for National Day Parades since the first one in 1966. Hunt for all the items in this mini-game, which features a National Day Parade at the Padang with its surrounding monuments, and stand to win attractive prizes!
4 – 11 Aug | Find Out More
Get creative with the Singapore Philatelic Museum and design your very own National Day stamp to commemorate Singapore’s 56th birthday! Stand a Quirks in the Island City Stamp Presentation Pack!
1 Aug | 4pm – 5pm
8 Aug | 2pm – 3pm
Register here
What places come to mind when you think about Singapore?
Unleash your creativity in this online workshop where you will decorate your very own paper camera, complete with a sliding roll of the iconic floating platform, Merlion, and Marina Bay Sands. Children will also learn more about these landmarks that represent Singapore as they have fun with craft.
Try it now Singapore Stone, Rider on a Horse, Setron TV, Setron Radio, The Mace of the City of Singapore
Singapore has a history that stretches back 700 years, and over that time, different objects have been used to affirm identity and celebrate community. From locally manufactured radios and televisions from the 60s to the Singapore Stone with it’s mysterious inscriptions, several objects from our National Collection that may have been used for this purpose can now be examined up close in augmented reality.
