With a rich history dating back to its inception in 1887, the National Museum of Singapore is Singapore's oldest museum with the youngest and most innovative soul. Designed to be the people's museum, the National Museum is a custodian of the 11 National Treasures, and its Singapore History and Living Galleries adopt cutting-edge and varied ways of presenting history and culture to redefine conventional museum experience.

A cultural and architectural icon in Singapore, the Museum hosts vibrant festivals and events all year round - the dynamic Night Festival, visually arresting art installations, as well as amazing performances and film screenings - in addition to presenting lauded exhibitions and precious artifacts. The programming is supported by a wide range of facilities and services including F&B, retail and a Resource Centre. The National Museum of Singapore re-opened in December 2006 after a three-year redevelopment.

SAM has amassed the world’s largest public collection of modern and contemporary Southeast Asian artworks with a growing component in international contemporary art. The Museum’s collection comprise over 7,000 Singapore and Southeast Asian modern and contemporary artworks and over 1000 works from its Tyler Print Collection, that include some of the most prominent names in the 20th century international art scene such as Frank Stella and Roy Lichtenstein. The collection includes paintings, sculptures, multimedia installations, drawings, prints, and photographs, among others.

Housed in a restored 19th century mission school, its permanent collection is displayed on a rotational basis. Along with Imaging Selves, Landscape In Southeast Asian Art, and Art of Our Time, all three exhibitions featuring its permanent collection, the Museum also curated country focus exhibitions, From There to Now, Soul Ties: The Land & Her People, Crossings, and Faith and Being, on Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand respectively. The art of the region is given international exposure through the Museum's travelling exhibition programme.