SAM at 8Q is the annexe of

Singapore Art Museum The Singapore Art Museum (Abbreviation: SAM) is an art museum with multiple venues across Singapore. It is the first fully dedicated contemporary visual arts museum in Singapore with one of the world’s most important public collections by loc ...

- Singapore's contemporary art museum. Located at the heart of the city, it derives its name from the museum's location at No. 8 Queen Street near

Bras Basah Road Bras Basah Road () is a one-way road in Singapore in the planning areas of Museum and Downtown Core. The road starts at the junction of Orchard Road and Handy Road, at the ERP gantry towards the Central Business District, and ends at the junc ...

. SAM at 8Q is also approximately 88 steps away from

History

The 4-storey building was formerly the primary school wing of the

Catholic High School Catholic schools are parochial pre-primary, primary and secondary educational institutions administered in association with the Catholic Church. , the Catholic Church operates the world's largest religious, non-governmental school system. In 201 ...

. When the School relocated to their current location in 1987, the space gave home to the Kum Yan Cantonese Methodist Church. In September 2007, the Church ended its tenancy and the building was repossessed by the

Singapore Land Authority The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) is a statutory board under the Ministry of Law of the Government of Singapore. SLA optimises land resources for Singapore's social and economic development. History The SLA was formed on 1 June 2001 when the ...

Launch

With new interest on contemporary art by the young, the National Heritage Board (NHB) took up tenancy of the building from the Land Authority. The Board also spent $5.8 million on renovations, and converted the classrooms in the 4-storey building into six galleries to showcase contemporary installation works, video and photography installation,

performance art Performance art is an artwork or art exhibition created through actions executed by the artist or other participants. It may be witnessed live or through documentation, spontaneously developed or written, and is traditionally presented to a pu ...

and

sound art Sound art is an artistic activity in which sound is utilized as a primary Time-based media, time-based Artistic medium, medium or material. Like many genres of contemporary art, sound art may be interdisciplinary in nature, or be used in Cross-genr ...

. A lift was also installed, and the galleries, staircases and parts of corridors have also been air-conditioned and humidity-controlled. There are also spaces to house two restaurants on the ground floor which are currently occupied by Love Pal Cafe and Standing Sushi Bar. SAM at 8Q was officially opened on 15 August 2008 with an inaugural 8-man art exhibition titled ''8Q-Rate: School''; a name pun from the word 'curate'. ''8Q-Rate'' featured the works by young contemporary artists such as :Jahan Loh, Donna Ong, Grace Tan, Chong Li Chuan, Jason Wee, Tan Kai Syng, Phunk and sculptor Ahmad Abu Bakar. SAM at 8Q is currently home to changing contemporary art exhibitions, including a popular annual children's contemporary art exhibition.

Location and facilities

Situated in the centre of Singapore’s major shopping district and Waterloo Street Arts Belt, SAM and SAM at 8Q are located alongside Singapore’s major performing arts and visual arts institutions: such as the Nanyang Academy of Fine Art, LaSalle College of the Arts, the Stamford Arts Centre, the Selegie Arts Centre, Singapore Calligraphy Centre, YMS Arts Centre, Dance Ensemble Singapore, Sculpture Square and Action Theatre as well as the School of the Arts: an institution that offers an integrated arts and academic curriculum for youths aged 13 to 18 years of age. SAM at 8Q is accessible by major public transportation systems such as the public buses, the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) lines and cab services. The nearest MRT station would be Brash Basah MRT station, on the Circle Line.

Gallery

File:8QSAMLuispeech.jpg, Senior Minister Of State Lui Tuck Yew delivering his speech at the official launch of 8Q sam. File:8QSAMofficialopening.jpg, Senior Minister Of State Lui Tuck Yew rings the school bell to mark the official opening of the new museum. File:8QSamMain.jpg, Glass hall of 8Q sam, on the left of the open space, formerly the Catholic school quadrangle

References

External links