SINGAPORE – Three of Singapore’s private museums – The Intan, Singapore Musical Box Museum and Mint Museum of Toys – have lined up exciting new programmes this quarter. Here is what you can expect:
The Intan
With its 20th anniversary taking place in 2023, Peranakan house museum The Intan’s Connoisseur Experiences are for locals and tourists.
Expanding beyond classic tea ceremonies to private dining, shoe beading or tile painting, the guided events are perfect for those looking for unique, up-close experiences of Peranakan culture.
The Intan’s corporate affairs director Alvin Yapp, 53, says: “Each specialist is carefully handpicked for his professionalism, attention to authenticity and years of dedication to his craft.”
Ranging from 90 to 120 minutes with the capacity for two to eight guests a session, the experiences can be personalised depending on interests.
Where: Various locations
When: Ongoing by booking
Admission: $388
Info: E-mail contactus@the-intan.com for bookings and inquiries
Singapore Musical Box Museum
The museum began its music box workshop on Feb 4 after conducting trials at the end of 2022. With a machine that allows users to imprint musical notes on a sheet for their music box, the workshop is a one-of-a-kind experience in Singapore.
Perfect for family, friends and large groups looking for something new to try, the session provides three standard designs. The hand crank design has to be manually wound up and has fixed music included; the movement design has a spring to release fixed music, much like a ballerina music box; and the cosmopolitan design is wound manually with the option for individuals to create their own music or use fixed music.
Laser engravings can be added to the box for $3.
Construction of the music boxes is easy enough for children aged nine and up.
Where: 168 Telok Ayer Street
When: Saturday afternoons based on bookings
Admission: $40 for individuals; $35 each for groups
Info: All bookings are to be made over e-mail at smbmbox@gmail.com as walk-ins will not be accommodated. Group bookings require at least 10 people
Mint Museum of Toys
Dedicated to preserving the history of vintage toys and childhood memorabilia, the Mint Museum of Toys has added a new augmented reality (AR) experience to its programming.
Supported by the National Heritage Board, the museum is launching four AR colouring books starting on Feb 18, with plans to release one each quarter. The book will be given out at their workshop, where instructions will be given on how to operate the AR powered exclusively by the Mint Museum of Toys App 2.0.
This quarter’s book is titled The Grizzly Bear’s New Home, in line with the theme of childhood favourites. Ideal for children aged four to 12, users can see their colouring books come alive in real time and in AR within the app, which can be used anywhere.
In conjunction with these launches, weekend colouring and storytelling workshops will be organised and facilitated by the museum.
Where: 26 Seah Street
When: 9.30am to 4.30pm, Tuesdays to Sundays, Feb 18-March 31
Admission: $25 per child
Info: emint.com/ar-story-book
Correction note: An earlier version of this article said the museum had a machine that imprinted musical notes on a cylinder piece in the music box and that laser engravings cost $2, which was their trial price. The machine actually prints musical sheets that run through the music box and engravings now cost $3. The previous version also said the AR colouring books are free, but they are available only as part of a $25 workshop. We are sorry for the error.
