16 AUGUST 2008

EVENT DATE: 16 AUGUST 2008

Astronomy 2008 Location





A2008 Venue

ASTRONOMY2008 is held on the 16th of August, 2008, in the city of Singapore at the Singapore Art Museum:


The Glass Hall
Singapore Art Museum
71 Bras Basah Road
Singapore 189555

The Glass Hall has a capacity of ~200 furnished with appropriate tables and seating and features modern audio-visual facilities. The spacious courtyards adjacent to the Glass Hall provide a convenient location for astronomical observing, refreshments and interaction amongst fellow astronomy enthusiasts. Parking slots are available (limited) for the facilitation of astronomical equipment transportation.



EVENT HOURS:
10:00am to 5:00pm



ADMISSION:
FREE



HOW TO GET THERE:





By Bus:
SBS: 7, 14, 16, 36, 97, 124, 131, 162, 174
SMART Tibs: 77, 67, 171, 190, 700, 700A, 857 (outside Rendezvous Hotel and NTUC Income Building)

By MRT:
SAM is a 10-minute walk from Dhoby Ghaut, Bugis or City Hall stations.

Driving/Parking:
Vehicle access to SAM from Bras Basah Road, Waterloo Street and Queen Street via Middle Road. Public parking is available at Waterloo Street, NTUC Income Centre and Queen Street.

History of the Singapore Art Museum





For 120 years, this was the home of St Joseph's Institution (SJI), a missionary school. Founded by the French priest Father Jean-Marie Beurel and a small group of LaSalle Brothers on 1 May 1852, the school was open to boys of all religions. Construction of the first building began in 1855 and took 12 years to complete.

The curved semi-circular wings with generous verandahs were completed in 1903 when the original building was enlarged to the design of Father Charles Nain. As the enrolment increased, new facilities were added, including the Anderson Block (1907), the school hall and the Chapel (1912).

In 1987, the school moved to larger grounds in Malcolm Road. However, the statue of St John Baptist de La Salle by Cesare Aureli was left behind as a remainder of SJI's rich heritage. The restoration of the building to an art museum commenced in 1992. The guiding philosophy was to respect the original building fabric while integrating the requirements for a state-of-the-art museum. The three historical structures, the Central Building, the Anderson Block and the Chapel were retained.

The Singapore Art Museum was officially opened on 20 January 1996. Its mission is to preserve and present the art histories and contemporary art practices of Singapore and the Southeast Asian region, so as to facilitate visual arts education, exchange, research and development.



The Glass Hall

The multipurpose hall located beyond the lobby area was recreated as a frameless glass enclosure, the glass adding a modern touch to an original space, and at the same time allowing light and transparency while being incorporated seamlessly with the public spaces of the museum.

Blank Space