National Gallery Singapore has launched The Gallery Benches, a public art initiative featuring ten red benches shaped from the Gallery’s logo, placed across various locations in Singapore from 9 to 18 January 2026.
Eugene Tan, CEO and Director of National Gallery Singapore, stated, “The Gallery believes that art is for anyone and everyone. These benches are a simple way of meeting people where they already are.”
The benches are located in diverse settings, including Clarke Quay, East Coast Park, and Orchard Road, reinforcing the Gallery’s commitment to engaging the public.
The project will be documented through film and photography, capturing interactions around the benches.
As the Gallery enters its second decade, The Gallery Benches project underscores its role as a civic space, inviting the public to pause and engage with art beyond museum walls.
Everyday art
This project aims to integrate art into everyday life by inviting the public to interact with these benches in parks, neighbourhoods, and cultural districts.
As such, its organisers seek to demystify art, making it approachable and part of daily life, serving as a new model of public support for the arts, as highlighted by Aun Koh, Assistant Chief Executive (Marketing and Development), who noted the importance of visible, inclusive art in public spaces.
The benches likewise serve as a platform for a new fundraising initiative, allowing organisations and individuals to adopt a bench for three years.
Contributions will support the Gallery’s mission to make art accessible, funding exhibitions, access programmes, and arts and wellness initiatives; after the public display, the benches will be installed within the Gallery from 24 January 2026.
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