We’d like to thank the Friends of yesterday.sg and the Singapore Heritage Group for their valuable comments and suggestions pertaining to the copying of artworks at Singapore Art Museum (SAM).
SAM is a staunch believer that the museum is a learning resource towards the promotion of art appreciation, reflection, and inter-cultural learning. In line with this belief, we encourage all forms of activities that foster art appreciation and expression. To this end, we encourage the copying of artworks in the galleries. However, as with major museums around the world, certain pararmeters had to be put in place to safeguard the national collection. There may also be some conditions imposed by insurers and lending museums.
We have reviewed our policy in regards to the need to apply for a sketching permit in the galleries, taking into consideration feedback from the public. We welcome drawing or sketching on hand held sketching pads in the galleries using dry medium. Understandably, special arrangements can be made with SAM for the setting up of easel, large drawing boards placed on the floor, use of wet medium, and studio art classes conducted in the galleries. Please contact our customer service Ms Stephanie Yeow at 6332 7989 for such arrangement.
We seek your understanding, and we welcome all who are interested in making SAM their source of inspiration for the learning and studying of art.
5 Responses
I certainly welcome this move!
Posted on May 10th, 2006 at 2:14 am
Cheers all round. Will spread the word in various places like the local art forums etc. They would appreciate this new stand from SAM.
Posted on May 10th, 2006 at 5:31 am
i can almost weep at the absurbness of this line …”we have reviewed our policy”. i did not even know that i have to apply for a permit to do sketching…or using dry mediums
i wonder how long did that takes for you guys to realize that it is absurb to apply for a permit to just sketch, or using dry mediums in the gallery.(i understand the part of wet medium)
eg, i might be interested to do undertake a sargent’s study pencil sketch and i need to apply a permit in the past? and for the record, i actually went to do sketches before at the museum..and i did not apply for a permit..please…civil servants…and the management level..at the museum….how long does it takes for you to realize the need to change or review the policy….
Posted on May 15th, 2006 at 4:12 am
To Jame, you said you went to the museum to sketch and you didn’t request for permit. Maybe that showed that SAM exercised some flexibility for you already
Personally, I think it’s moot to question why the policy is being reviewed now. What’s important is that it has been reviewed and accomodations made. If you must know, I work for a stat board currently but I’m not defending anyone here and I’m commenting on this in my personal capacity. Just stating how I would see the issue. Besides, to imply that all govt agencies are slow to review policies — it seems too sweeping a statement. Cheers.
Posted on May 15th, 2006 at 5:15 am
there seems to be some major confusion on this matter. the last i called sam, they insisted we NEED a PERMIT to sketch. so that sam can “know” who is “doing” the drawing. what if one is spurred by a moment of inspiration to sketch by a painting?
can’t you get it into your head, the process of creative input or output does not follow a schedule. one cannot “plan” to be “inspired” on a certain day at a certain time.
it seems like singapore is not “ready” to be innovative, or even allow a space for creative output of sorts.
its not just sam, national museum is the same. same attitude.
Posted on March 3rd, 2008 at 8:08 am
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