The Singapore Art Museum (SAM) focuses on international contemporary art practices, specialising in Singapore and Southeast Asia.

Our Vision
SAM will be pivotal among contemporary art museums in the region, inspiring humane and better futures through meaningful encounters with art.

Our Mission
SAM champions contemporary art in Southeast Asia, in active dialogue and collaboration with artists, partners, and audiences; through our collection, educational outreach, research and thought-provoking exhibitions.

Housed in a restored 19th-century mission school, Singapore Art Museum opened its doors in 1996 as the first art museum in Singapore. Also known as SAM, the museum is now a contemporary art museum.

SAM has built one of the world's most important public collections of Southeast Asian contemporary artworks, with a growing component in international contemporary art. SAM draws from its collection and collaborates with international contemporary art museums to co-curate and present contemporary art exhibitions. Contemporary art of the region is also given international exposure through SAM's travelling exhibition programme and collection loans.

Visitors can extend their SAM experience through complementary and exhibition-related education and public programmes such as:

exhibition-related public programmes and workshops
educational programmes and workshops which cover a diversity of art trends and contemporary art practices for all ages
outreach programmes where SAM programmes are extended outside of the museum to schools, community centres, and partner locations
SAM exhibition downloadable activity sheets for pre-schoolers, primary, secondary and tertiary level students
SAM is the organiser of the Singapore Biennale in 2011, 2013, 2016 and 2019.

On 13 November 2013, SAM became incorporated as an independent company limited by guarantee.