Kennie Ting appointed as new director of the Asian Civilisations Museum

Mr Kennie Ting will take over as director of the Asian Civilisations Museum from Sept 1, 2016. PHOTO: NATIONAL HERITAGE BOARD

SINGAPORE - The National Heritage Board (NHB) has appointed Mr Kennie Ting, 38, to take over as director of the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM), with effect from Sept 1. He will replace the museum's current director, Dr Alan Chong, who has been at the helm of the museum for the last six years.

Mr Ting's career began at the former Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts (Mica), where he had a hand in drafting the Renaissance City Plan III - a comprehensive blueprint for the arts and heritage sector. This plan helped to drive various national-level initiatives in the late 2000s, including the development of the National Gallery and the Singapore Night Festival.

In 2015, Mr Ting was appointed Group Director of Museums, with direct oversight of NHB's museums and major festivals.

On Mr Ting's appointment, Mrs Rosa Daniel, CEO of NHB, said: "Kennie's appointment underscores the confidence we have in our young home-grown leadership taking our cultural institutions forward."

She also spoke of Mr Ting's contribution to the arts and heritage sector.

"Over the last one-and-a-half years,Kennie has been driving key aspects of ACM's operations and its recent revamp," Mrs Daniel said.

"With his keen interest and research into Asian history, Kennie will continue to take ACM forward as a museum of international distinction which tells the story of Singapore's rich cross-cultural Asian heritage," she added.

Mr Ting is also the author of two books published in 2015, The Romance Of The Grand Tour - 100 Years Of Travel In South-east Asia, and a volume on Heritage in the Singapore Chronicles series commissioned by the Institute of Policy Studies.

Mr Loh Lik Peng, chairman of the ACM, joined Mrs Daniel in thanking the outgoing ACM chief for his years of service.

"I thank Alan for his contributions in pulling together the revamp of ACM and re-positioning it as an inspiring museum of cross-cultural connectedness," said Mr Loh.

"ACM is a top institution in this region, and I am confident Kennie will take it to the next level of excellence in the region and beyond."

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