Forget clubbing. Museums are the new places to party in Singapore

No longer just an annual/occasional affair, museums here are organizing regular parties, festivals and late-night events in a bid to draw more public interest in arts and culture. And this month, you can expect stuff happening at The Asian Civilisations Museum, National Gallery Singapore and Gillman Barracks.

While we are not complaining about these developments, we wonder how these museums grapple with the possibility of visitor fatigue, and those who are drawn to these events not for the arts, but for the revelry. According to a spokesperson from The Asian Civilisations Museum, events by the ACM are planned so they complement the exhibitions on show, making them a more interactive experience for the masses. “We pay close attention to the programming details at our festivals to make sure that they are relevant to the Museum’s content, creating accessible touch points for the crowd to understand more about the Museum’s collection.”

So whether you’re there for the exhibitions, or for the hype, here are the arty parties you can’t miss.

Common Grounds at the National Gallery Singapore (Jun 11-12)

Following a block party at Gallery & Co., a major weekend festival is taking over the National Gallery Singapore again, and it’s all about old school nolstagia. Happening throughout the museum are highlights like a pop-up market, interactive exhibitions and fusion music performances. Unlike the party by Gallery & Co., which had booze and a DJ spinning an electronic soundtrack, this is a more kosher affair that features hands-on activities like calligraphy and silk screening, and food stalls selling traditional snacks (you can always head up to Smoke & Mirrors for an early happy hour after).

AfterHours@ACM (Jun 15)

Another edition of the AfterHours series is on next week and the Asian Civilisations Museum is opening its galleries till 10pm on Jun 15. There are guided tours of its newest exhibition, Christianity in Asia, and a wine and roast meat pairing from 8-9:30pm. Tickets are at $98 (before Jun 15) and $108 (actual day), and you can purchase them here.

The museum is also planning a heritage and community-focused event, the Love, Light and Living Festival from Sep 3-4. Details are under wraps, but we were told there will be a light art installation on the facade of the ACM, with music performances and an activity space. Watch this space for updates.

Art Day Out! at Gillman Barracks (Jun 25)

The next Gillman Barracks’ Art Day Out is happening on Jun 25, 2-7pm. It’s the School Holidays Edition, which means plenty of kids activities, but for the adults, there are interesting launches like a preview of the Arrival exhibition by Australian gallery Sullivan+Strumpf. Time to grab your picnic blankets.