When it reopens its doors to the public in 2022, the Singapore Philatelic Museum (SPM)¹ will be a dedicated children’s museum: a welcoming, imaginative and nurturing space that fosters learning amongst our young. The new children’s museum will explore a wide range of themes including heritage, culture and contemporary issues.

Related Read: Closure of Singapore Philatelic Museum and Peranakan Museum for Redevelopment

Singapore Philatelic Museum SPM dedicated children museum

As a permanent venue that offers children’s programming all year round, the new children’s museum will be a “starter museum” to introduce young visitors and their families to the museum-going experience. It will present them with the opportunity to learn about themselves, their nation and their place in the world, and develop common values and a shared national identity from a young age.

19th century picture postcard of Singapore River crowded with tongkang19th century picture postcard of Singapore River crowded with tongkang, and Fort Canning lighthouse, flagstaff and timeball in the background. (SPM Collection donated by Prof Cheah Jin Seng) [Image courtesy of SPM]

Targeted at children aged 12 and below, the new children’s museum will encourage young visitors to explore and learn through artefacts, hands-on and immersive displays, personal stories, and role-playing. For example, its permanent galleries will introduce them to Singapore’s history and heritage, and allow them to discover hidden treasures based on the nearby Fort Canning archaeological finds, travel in time to meet early pioneers and run a neighbourhood Post Office. There will also be a special exhibition titled Happy Birthday, Singapore!, which invites children to go behind-the-scenes to experience the planning of a National Day parade, where they will get to design parade costumes and a fireworks display.

50 Years of National Day Parade50 Years of National Day Parade, 2016 (Stamp Artwork, NHB Collection) [Image courtesy of National Heritage Board]

SPM’s philatelic collection will continue to be used alongside other artefacts to support children’s learning in the new museum. Stamps make excellent educational resources for children who find them attractive and accessible, and they will be part of the museum’s refreshed permanent galleries and special exhibitions.




To create a more diverse and vibrant museum scene in Singapore, the Singapore Philatelic Museum will complement National Gallery Singapore‘s Keppel Centre for Art Education and Singapore Science Centre’s KidsSTOP, among others. It will also partner leading children’s museums overseas to exchange and benchmark best practices and pedagogy, as well as to bring meaningful children-focused exhibitions to Singapore.

¹ SPM has been undergoing redevelopment to refresh its infrastructure, content and offerings following its closure to the public from 18 Mar 2019. This is the first major development for SPM since its opening in 1995.

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