SINGAPORE, Nov 9 — The Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) today revealed more of what visitors can expect when it opens its doors on November 14 to mark the end of Phase One of its ongoing S$25 million (RM76.7 million) revamp.

Phase Two will be completed in March next year, while Phase Three will be finished in 2017.

It will kick off with a 24-hour event this weekend, called 24Hours@ACM, featuring a mix of concerts, museum tours and other free events to celebrate the completion and opening of its new gallery spaces, such as the Khoo Teck Puat Gallery and the Kwek Hong Png Wing, as well as a new riverfront entrance,

Dr Alan Chong, director of ACM, said: “This is an extremely exciting milestone for the ACM, as we unveil the first phase of our major renovations and renewal. This renewal is the culmination of a long process of planning and collection building that is focused on the connections between Asian cultures, and between Asia and the world. At the heart of the revamp is our mission to inspire everyone in Asia to explore their heritage, allow them to reflect on their inter-cultural contacts, and learn how cultures have evolved over time.”

Some of the items on display include artefacts from the Tang Shipwreck Collection — featuring ceramic, as well as gold and silver items taken from a 9th Century vessel that sailed a route from Africa to China around 830 to 840 AD, and sank off the coast of Belitung Island in Indonesia.

In the museum’s first contemporary art space, housed at in the Kwek Hong Png Wing, visitors will be able to view works by artists in response to ACM’s historical collection, such as Grains Of Thought — two large, suspended sculptures inspired by a grain of rice — by Singaporean artist Eng Tow.

Phase One also shows a fresh take on the museum’s content, with its permanent galleries and artefacts being organised by theme, rather than geographical regions, to reflect the interconnectedness and evolution of Asian cultures.

Apart from new exhibition spaces, two new mobile apps have also been launched to “transform the visitor experience”. The first is the ACM app, a new location-enabled app that gives visitors relevant content through videos and interactive elements on their mobile device, as well as a selection of self-guided tours, behind-the-scenes views, and interactive maps.

The other app is the ACM VR App, which allows visitors to enjoy a virtual reality experience of the Tang Shipwreck. Both apps are available for free from November 14 onwards on the iOS and Google Play Store. — TODAY