Hands up if you’ve attended art classes or martial arts classes at Community Centres while you were growing up! Many of us would have benefited from the accessible classes held at the “CCs” near home and some of us might even have found out our talents through such programmes. Wondering how it all started?
Our Community Gallery has the answers!
What is Our Community Gallery
Our Community Gallery is a gallery located at National Community Leadership Institute (NACLI), South Buona Vista Road.
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The gallery is centred around Singapore’s journey of community development for the past six decades. It highlights the need for community building through various initiatives run by volunteers, grassroots leaders and other key stakeholders.
Gallery Layout & Highlights
There are four segments at Our Community Gallery after entering through the Welcome Lobby.
The space is designed to be interactive and the cheery colours give a welcoming vibe especially to families visiting.
First, collect your personalised RFID tag to optimise the interactive experience at the gallery.
Play a game with loved ones to collect the right blocks that aid with community building. This might be the warm-up the family needs and a preview of what’s to come.
Singapore’s Turbulent Beginnings
The next segment takes visitors back to the time of upheaval and racial tensions.
Step into a kampong house in the sixties and watch what is about to happen with neighbours passing by at windows and scenes of chaos.
The days of riots might be behind us but the peace we enjoy today could very well be taken for granted. Through a multimedia presentation with vivid lights and sounds, visitors watching can understand how important it is to be united as a nation.
Throughout the gallery, scan your RFID tag and answer questions to help you discover your community archetype.
Forging Our Path to Social Cohesion
Continue the path and step into a kampong village where you can see familiar notice boards and a basketball hoop. This is where visitors can understand the history of community building.
Information is presented through three themes: unity in diversity, cornerstones of social cohesion and shaping our shared identity.
Learn the history of Chingay, important culture facts about various races and also uncover ways to encourage racial harmony. The content is presented in various forms so children can pull up tabs, open drawers, listen to audio recordings, press buttons to learn in a tactile manner.
Head to the next room where it looks like a void deck with a round table, letterboxes, coin-operated phone and notice boards.
The setting up of People’s Association and its early days is detailed through old pictures, interviews and various multimedia tools.
This jolted my memory of attending art classes at the Community Club – meant to be places where people of different backgrounds can come together and connect through shared interests.
The community centre was also where many of us picked up sports and played with others. Badminton, basketball, table tennis used to be the choice of activity.
Play Snake and Ladders at the table with another player. Answer questions to find out how community-minded you are. Of course, the right answers help you to progress.
Weathering Crises as a Community
Continue to the next segment where we are reminded of familiar crises such as the COVID pandemic, SARS and recession.
Recall what helped us to emerge stronger to overcome the crises as well as opportunities for Singaporeans to support one another.
Play the game Supermarket Madness 2. This was a game designed by NACLI during the pandemic to encourage the community to be considerate shopping and look out for vulnerable neighbours.
Charting Our Way Forward
The last segment gets visitors to reflect on the six decades of community building and make a pledge to do our part.
Connect with the stories of inspiring volunteers and also step onto the coloured pads to participate in the digital community mural.
Then print your personalised sticker which describes your community archetype based on the responses given.
Are you a Heartland Hero, Gung Ho Warrior, Skilful Shifu or Lobang Legend?
Before Heading to Our Community Gallery
Get your tickets first before you head to Our Community Gallery.
As you enter NACLI, get a visitor’s pass from the guardhouse before proceeding to the gallery. There is free parking available at the parade square for those who drive.
Save about 1.5 hours for the visit.
Pair a visit to Our Community Gallery with Kent Ridge Park for a family day out in the Southwest. Then head to Geneo Mall for a meal, everything’s within the vicinity.
Where: 70 South Buona Vista Road, Singapore 118176
When: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 9 am to 4 pm (Last entry at 3 pm)
Closed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays and eve of Publis Holidays, and Public Holidays
Guided tours on Saturdays at 10 am and 12 pm
Website: Our Community Gallery
