Getting to know…
Ms Suenne Megan Tan
Director, Education & Programmes

We speak to Ms Suenne Megan Tan, the Director of Education and Programmes, to find out more about the exciting offerings in the Gallery when it opens in 2015.

Please tell us more about the role of the Education and Programmes department in The National Art Gallery, Singapore.
The Education and Programmes department plays an integral role in the Gallery, fostering deeper art engagement through a sustained line-up of programmes and activities among visitors. For instance, we organise artists’ talks, lectures and curator tours for exhibitions to allow visitors to get more in-depth knowledge about the artists and artworks.

We also develop art education trails, resource kits and creative play corners to create an engaging environment for students to learn about art.

Organising large scale public events is also part of our portfolio. Last October, we organised an Open House at the former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings to give visitors a chance to catch a glimpse of the buildings before we begin construction to transform the buildings into the new National Art Gallery. The event attracted more than 40,000 visitors.

What are some of the exciting programmes or activities that we can expect when the Gallery opens in 2015?
We are working on a unique children’s art education centre, providing a variety of fun, multi-sensory learning opportunities for children of all ages. There will be a playground for toddlers and young children, workshops, interactive media rooms, as well as learning spaces for secondary and tertiary students.

Visitors can also look forward to an exciting and happening opening festival with thrilling performances and complementing programmes during our official opening in 2015.

Prior to joining The National Art Gallery, Singapore in 2009, Ms Suenne Megan Tan was Deputy Director, Programmes, Education and Outreach at the Singapore Art Museum (SAM). In SAM, Suenne secured high-profile international and local media coverage for SAM’s exhibitions as well as enhancing international relations between the museum and its overseas counterparts. Suenne’s interests include the scopes of museum education and the shaping of knowledge; art history and critical theory; the fields of museology, with a specific focus on modern and contemporary art museums and has published numerous articles on these issues.