SINGAPORE – About 80,000 museum-goers who visited the Asian Civilizations Museum’s exhibits have been temporarily moved to Japan and introduced to the Japanese geisha community amidst border tightening due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Russell Wong In Kyoto Exhibition, which was held twice for about a year from April last year, was donated by a photographer with 79 prints carefully taken as a personal project for 13 years from 2008. was realized.
For this contribution to Singapore’s arts, heritage and cultural scene, Mr. Wong was honored as the National Heritage Board’s (NHB) Annual Patron of Honor held at the Malay Heritage Centre, Kampong Glam on Tuesday evening (16 August). Awarded at the Heritage Awards ceremony.
Thirty other contributors were also honored for their efforts.
In 2021, 15 organizations and foundations and 16 individuals donated $1.66 million in cash and crafts to provide in-kind support.
Their contributions have helped Singapore maintain its efforts to protect its heritage and strengthen the heritage sector’s capacity, the board said in a statement.
$3.24 million was donated in 2020, and $5.55 million to $8.67 million was donated annually from 2016-2019.
An NHB spokesman said that in 2021, museum and heritage offerings will be scaled back and more limited in scope than before the pandemic, as general safety management guidelines must be adhered to.
“Inevitably, this has also narrowed the range of opportunities to solicit donations,” he said.
Referring to the pandemic, Culture, Communities and Youth Minister Edwin Tong, who presented the award on Tuesday night, said the contribution of the patrons was “really desperately needed for inspiration like this, especially over the past two and a half years.” .
Wong, 61, said donating the prints “seemed like the logical thing to do to give them more life.”
He added that the exhibition gave audiences the opportunity to escape stressors at home and work and “travel” to Japan. said.
