Celebrating our island heritage

Mr Ong Yew Huat, Chairman of the National Heritage Board
Mrs Lee Suet Fern, Chairman of the Asian Civilisations Museum
Mrs Rosa Daniel, CEO of the National Heritage Board
Distinguished guests and partners
Ladies and Gentlemen

1. I'm happy to see so many of you here this evening at the opening of Singapore HeritageFest 2014. The support we have received this year has truly surpassed expectations – both from our community partners, and from members of the public. We are very happy to have such strong support and interest.
   

2. This surge of interest in our heritage is the reason why HeritageFest has returned year after year for more than 10 years. I want to start by thanking the NHB team, and particularly our partners, and our partner agencies. It is a lot of work but the fact that there is such strong response from the public, makes the hard work worth the while.
   

3. This year's HeritageFest – “Our Islands, Our Home” – is all about our past, and in fact, our present as a maritime nation. We owe our modern existence to our strategic location as a free port, beginning as a small trading post some 200 years ago.
   

4. The port remains a jewel of our open economy, connecting us to global markets and bringing in goods that are needed by the economy and the people of Singapore.
   

5. Our maritime heritage has left an indelible stamp on our cultural, economic and social development. We are a diverse and multiracial society, born as a meeting place for migrants who brought with them their rich cultures and traditions when they set foot on the banks of the Singapore River.
   

6. It is important for Singaporeans to be aware of and take pride in our maritime heritage. So I'm glad that the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and the National Heritage Board have come together to set up a Maritime Heritage Fund. This will support community-led initiatives dedicated to raising awareness of Singapore's maritime heritage. I would like to encourage all heritage enthusiasts to come up with creative ways to help Singaporeans connect better with our rich maritime legacy.
   

7. It's also fitting that today's launch is held at the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM), on the banks of the Singapore River. In fact, by the 3rd quarter of next year, the space around us will be transformed into a new entrance for the Museum, opening it up to the riverbank and connecting it to the historic heart of Singapore. We are also revamping the Museum, with expanded galleries, including space for the Tang Cargo, treasures that have been salvaged from the Java sea, as well as new shops and dining options.
   

8. Beyond this space, we are doing more to develop the entire civic and cultural district. We've just completed the refurbishment of the Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall, and it's having an open house this weekend. Of course, we also look forward to the new National Gallery, which will open its doors in end-2015.
   

9. So there's much that's happening on the art and cultural front. And I hope that all Singaporeans will bring their families and friends to enjoy, firsthand, not just the liveliness of the district but also its rich culture and heritage.
   

10. Even as I speak, many are enjoying the story sessions, tours and other activities lined up by ACM as part of its inaugural River Nights programme. This is an excellent way to celebrate, and to share the heritage of the River and its changing identity over the years – from its past as the trading artery of old Singapore, to its present as a contemporary magnet for Singaporeans and visitors alike.
    

11. River Nights is just the beginning. Over the next week or so, HeritageFest will offer many opportunities for Singaporeans to discover some of the lesser-known aspects of our geography and history. For instance, few are aware that Singapore is not just a lone island, but an archipelago of more than 50 islands!
    

12. Other surprises lie in wait across the many activities that the Festival has in store. For example – film screenings, exhibitions at the National Museum and activities at locations all across the island. These will have colourful and interesting themes including our motor racing history, traditional medicine across different ethnic groups, and our architecturally-unique shop houses.
    

13. For those who are keen to put on their walking shoes, there are also lighthouse and island visits, temple tours, maritime trails and many more. Altogether, more than 60 programmes will be organised island-wide – the highest number ever organised in the Festival's 11-year history. This has only been made possible through the support of all our partners here tonight, and I thank all of you for your commitment and dedication.
    

14. HeritageFest has created the space and opportunity for all Singaporeans to reconsider what we think we know about our “little red dot”. It's a call for all of us to reflect upon, and to reconnect with the Singapore that we call home.
    

15. It's all the more meaningful for us to do so as we approach Singapore's Golden Jubilee next year. In fact, we are already planning on a bigger and more exciting edition for HeritageFest 2015, and the good news is that you need not wait too long, as it will be held earlier in April instead of July, to coincide with World Heritage Day.
    

16. But let's get started today. I urge all Singaporeans to bring a friend, your colleagues, your loved ones, and encounter Singapore anew over the coming week. Reflect on what you find, and share this with others – what you learned, what you were prompted to think about, and what you were moved by. There's lots to see, there's lots to learn about our little red dot.
    

17. You are the ones who will determine the Festival's success.
    

18. It gives me great pleasure to declare Singapore HeritageFest 2014 open. Thank you.