Rare artefacts from China's Palace Museum coming to Singapore, following MOU

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(From left) Ms Chang Hwee Nee, NHB's chief executive, Ms Grace Fu, Singapore's Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Mr Luo Shugang, Minister for Culture for the People's Republic of China, and Dr Shan Jixiang, Palace Museum director, at the signing of the MOU. PHOTO: MCCY
Ms Grace Fu (seated, third from right) was present at Beijing's Palace Museum to witness the signing of an MOU between the museum and Singapore's NHB. ST PHOTO: TOH WEN LI

BEIJING - Rare artefacts from China's Palace Museum will be displayed in Singapore, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on Friday (June 16) between the museum and Singapore's National Heritage Board (NHB).

This is a first for both parties, and lasts for five years from Friday.

Under the MOU, NHB - which oversees six museums in Singapore - and the Palace Museum will collaborate in five areas: exhibition and loan exchange; exchange of information relating to collections management and conservation; curatorial and conservation staff exchange; research and publication; and retail opportunities.

For instance, there are ongoing discussions for a proposed joint exhibition between NHB's Asian Civilisations Museum and the Palace Museum, to be held in Singapore.

Plans are also afoot for a workshop for museum educators and programmers from Singapore, China and South-east Asia to pick up practical skills to build, engage and sustain new audiences in an immersive museum visit experience; share best practices in building new audiences; and create awareness in the role of museums as agents for social inclusion and community building

The MOU was signed by NHB's chief executive Chang Hwee Nee, and the Palace Museum director Dr Shan Jixiang. It was witnessed by Ms Grace Fu, Singapore's Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Mr Luo Shugang, Minister for Culture for the People's Republic of China.

Said Ms Fu: "The signing of this MOU further cements the strong cultural relations between our two countries, and paves the way for more partnerships in the future. I look forward to the upcoming collaborations that will showcase the best of China's and Singapore's culture, and add vibrancy to both our heritage sectors."

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