Asian Civilisations Museum

The Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) focuses on the diverse cultures of Asia. It specialises in the material history of China, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and West Asia, which are the ancestral origins of Singapore's various ethnic communities, including the Tamils. ACM, along with the Indian Heritage Centre, both managed by the National Heritage Board, provide rare insights into the history of Singapore’s Tamil community.

ACM has a rich collection of objects relating to Tamil heritage. They include sculptures, puppets, paintings, fashion, and jewellery, spanning the 12th to 20th century. The museum also hosts special exhibitions related to the Tamil community, such as Vel Vel: The Burden Dance (2022), which explored the rich history of elaborate processional structures called kavadi, carried during the Thaipusam festival. These exhibitions offer an in-depth exploration of the cultural and historical contributions of the Tamil community.

In 2015, ACM returned an 11th-century bronze sculpture of the Hindu goddess Uma Parameshvari to the Indian authorities. The return was prompted by investigations by India and Singapore into the illicit trafficking of historical artworks and reflects ACM's commitment to ethical museum practices and the protection of cultural heritage.



For more information
Asian Civilisation Museum. Accessed 11 June 2025. https://www.nhb.gov.sg/acm/ 
“Collections,” RootsSG. Accessed 11 June 2025. https://www.roots.gov.sg/filter/collectionresearch 
“Asian Civilisations Museum returns an 11th-century bronze sculpture to India,” Asian Civilisation Museum, 19 October 2015. https://www.nhb.gov.sg/acm/~/media/acm/document/about%20us/media/press%20releases/acm%20statement%20_uma%20return_19%20oct%202015%20sg%20press.pdf 
“Publications,” Asian Civilisation Museum. Accessed 11 June 2025. https://www.nhb.gov.sg/acm/acm-online/publications 

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The information in this article is valid as of August 2025 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. If you have any feedback on this article, please submit here.