School of Creative
Industries
BA(Hons) Arts Management
How can the residencies programme of Singapore Art Museum embody activism?
This paper examines the role of public museums in Singapore to take on an activist role. The International Council of Museums has defined a museum as an institution that “researches, collects, conserves, interprets and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage. […] Museums foster diversity and sustainability. They operate and communicate ethically, professionally and with the participation of communities, offering varied experiences” (ICOM, 2022). The new definition suggests a shift in museum’s identity and accountability. It emphasises the integral nature of inclusivity and social justice, and signifies a social expectation for museums.
However, museums in Singapore adopt a more passive position when speaking about their role in activism as compared to western museums like MoMA. Incorporating content analysis and interviews, this thesis investigates how activism can manifest in the context of a museum and how it can achieve the above for society. For this purpose, it examines the Singapore Art Museum's residencies programme as a case study. This thesis argues for the need for an activist positioning of a public museum and its lasting significance in our society and culture.
museum activism, public space, new museology
historical context of museum activism, ethical considerations in museum activism, future directions of museum activism
Park Hyun Min
Hyun Min is an aspiring curator who is intrigued by the power of storytelling through art. During her internship with Singapore Art Museum, she put together a 15-day showcase along with four artists in residence that allowed her to pick up skill sets in curation along with exhibition installation, project management and marketing. Hyun Min was also involved in the Singapore Biennale 2022 as a translator, observing and learning from participating Korean artists.
Hyun Min's recent interests lie in how museums, a public space, can be better at being a centre for social transformation. With a strong belief that museums have a social responsibility to represent the stories of all of its communities, she hopes to make a difference by becoming a curator that is brave in presenting important issues that need to be heard.