8Q SAM

Infobox Museum
name = 8Q SAM

---

imagesize = 300px
caption =
map_type =
map_caption =
latitude =
longitude =
established = bda|2008|08|15
dissolved =
location = coord|1|17|48|N|103|51|5|E
Singapore
type = Contemporary art
visitors =
director = Dr Kwok Kian Chow
curator =
publictransit = City Hall MRT Station
(coord|1|10|24|N|103|30|38|E)
website = [http://singart.com/8qsam 8Q SAM]

8Q SAM is a museum for contemporary art in Singapore, located at the heart of the city. It is a new wing of the Singapore Art Museum (SAM), with its name deriving from the museum's location at No. 8 Queen Street near Bras Basah Road.cite news|last=Adeline|first=Chia|title=8Q SAM is the name, edgy art is the game|location=Singapore|publisher=Straits Times|page=A4] The museum's location is also approximately 88 steps away from the mother Singapore Art Museum.cite news|last=Martin|first=Mayo|title=Call it 8Q|location=Singapore|publisher=Today|page=38]

The 4-storey building was formerly the primary school wing of the Catholic High School. When the School relocated to their current location in 1987, the 3,500 sq m space gave home to the Kim Yan Cantonese Methodist Church. In September 2007, the Church ended its tenancy and the building was repossessed by the Singapore Land Authority. With new interest on contemporary art by the young, the National Heritage Board (NHB) took up tenancy of the building from the Land Authority. The Board also spent $5.8 million on renovations, and converted the classrooms in the 4-storey building into six galleries to showcase contemporary installation works, video and photography installation, performance art and sound art. A lift was also installed, and the galleries, staircases and parts of corridors have also been air-conditioned and humidity-controlled. There are also spaces to house two restaurants on the ground floor. The new 8Q museum was officially opened on August 15, 2008 with an inaugural 8-man art exhibition titled "8Q-Rate: School"; a name pun from the word 'curate'. "8Q-Rate" featured the works by young contemporary artists such as Donna Ong, Jahan Loh, Tan Kai Syng and sculptor Ahmad Abu Bakar. The opening nite also featured live music by Zouk DJ Tony Jay.

8Q SAM plans to hold an average of six major exhibitions a year, and it explores exhibition collaborations with other local contemporary art spaces like the Theatreworks' 72-13 and The Substation.

ee Also

* Singapore Art Museum

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://app.sprinter.gov.sg/data/pr/20080815981.htm Speech By Radm (Ns) Lui Tuck Yew, Senior Minister Of State For Education And Information, Communications And The Arts, at the official launch of 8Q SAM, 15 August 2008, 7.00 pm at 8Q SAM]

* [http://blogofsorts.wordpress.com/2008/08/13/8q-sam-formerly-catholic-high-primary-school 8Q SAM - formerly Catholic High Primary School, in Yesterday...today...tommorrow blog]