NUS Museum

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NUS Museum is a university museum set within the global community, with a distinct focus on Asia.

As a university museum, NUS Museum’s mission is to actively facilitate intellectual and cultural life within and beyond the University. With a distinct focus on Asia, the Museum contributes to and facilitates the production, reception, and preservation of knowledge through collections development and curatorial practice, developing partnerships within NUS, the cultural and heritage industry, and the global knowledge community. Since 2004, the NUS Museum has been part of NUS Centre For the Arts.

History and Collections

The museum’s roots may be traced back to 1955 when the University Art Museum was established at the University of Malaya. Under the direction of Michael Sullivan, the museum’s first curator (1954-1960), the collection was instrumental to the teaching and study of Art History at the University. Established before Singapore’s independence, NUS Museum may be regarded as a prototypical museum institution; its historical trajectory mirroring significant periods in the history of Singapore and the University in its search to reflect Malayan or national identity within the context of its geography and inter-cultural encounters.

The Museum has over 8,000 artefacts and artworks across four collections, the South & Southeast Asian Collection, the Lee Kong Chian Collection, the Ng Eng Teng Collection and the Straits Chinese Collection, located at the NUS Baba House.

NUS Museum manages the NUS Baba House located at 157 Neil Road. One of the last surviving Straits Chinese houses in Singapore, it was launched in September 2008 after comprehensive research and restoration work done in partnership with the NUS Department of Architecture and the Urban Redevelopment Authority. The house was a gift from Ms Agnes Tan to the University to encourage appreciation of and research into Straits Chinese history, identity, iconography and architecture.