Gillman Barracks

Gillman Barracks is a contemporary arts cluster in Singapore that is home to international art galleries, restaurants and the NTU Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA) Singapore, which are all housed in conserved colonial barracks. The 6.4 hectare site covers Lock Road and Malan Road amid greenery, Gillman Barracks is jointly developed by the Singapore Economic Development Board, JTC Corporation and the National Arts Council.

History

Gillman Barracks is located on the site of a former military camp named after the late General Sir Webb Gillman,^[1] a British army officer.^[2] Set up in 1936 to accommodate the expansion of the British infantry in Singapore, the camp consists of 14 buildings that were taken over by the Singapore Armed Forces in August 1971 as part of the withdrawal of the British military from Singapore.

After the SAF vacated the camp in the 1990s, the buildings were used for commercial purposes and the site was renamed Gillman Village in 1996. The site reverted to its original name, Gillman Barracks, in 2010^[3] and was re-developed and launched in September 2012 as a contemporary art centre.^[4]

The art cluster is an effort to create vibrant arts scene in Singapore made up of public museums, commercial galleries, non-profit spaces, and major art events such as the Singapore Biennale and Art Stage Singapore.^[5]

In April 2015, five galleries—almost a third of the 17 galleries there—did not renew their leases, citing low human traffic, poor sales and a slow start to the arts enclave. This came after "three years of persistently low footfall".^[6]

In February 2016, Galerie Michael Janssen also left, citing how they "felt the project has not taken off as envisioned". Singapore design label Supermama, ice cream shop Creamier and Australian gallery Sullivan+Strumpf moved in instead.^[7]

Vision

In its conception, the Gillman Barracks aims to foster cultural exchange and creation, generating discourse and research and showcasing innovative art. The galleries, education and outreach efforts are to establish Singapore as an important centre for contemporary art in Asia.

Galleries

The galleries feature diverse exhibitions from internationally acclaimed artists, of Southeast Asia and around the world. Artists include both the established and emerging such as Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan, Heman Chong, Ai Weiwei, Yayoi Kusama, Yoshitomo Nara and Sebastião Salgado.^[5] Tours are also provided by Friends of the Museums, giving the public insight to the art located within the Barracks, as well as the Barracks' rich history and heritage.^[8][9][10]

Education and outreach

Gillman Barracks is also home to several art institutions and charities, including:

• Nanyang Technological University Centre for Contemporary Arts - devoted to advancing knowledge in contemporary art through its international artist residencies, research and exhibition programmes that will bolster the region’s visual arts landscape.^[11]
• Art Outreach - a non-profit art education organisation that promotes art appreciation in Singapore started in 2003. The programme exposes participants to the world of art and promotes visual literacy.
• Platform Projects Singapore - a non-profit organisation and registered charity founded in 2012 by Savita Apte, Shareen Khattar, and Christine Pillsbury. Platform Projects is dedicated to supporting and increasing awareness of contemporary art through various projects and collaborations.
• Playeum Children’s Centre for Creativity - Singapore’s first dedicated creative space for children and families. The Children’s Centre for Creativity is operated by Playeum Ltd, an independent non-profit organization that promotes play and creativity for children. Playeum Ltd is a registered charity and recognized Institution of Public Character (IPC).

References

1. "NEW BARRACKS FOR SINGAPORE.". The Straits Times. 3 June 1935. p. 7. Retrieved 22 November 2015 – via NewspaperSG.
2. Sir Webb Gillman [Obituary]. (1933, April 21). The Times. Retrieved November 26, 2008, from The Times Digital Archive.
3. Singapore Economic Development Board. (2011). Singapore Economic Development Board calls for Expressions of Interests (EOI) for galleries to set up in Gillman Barracks extended to 26 August 2011 [Press release]. Retrieved October 25, 2011, from http://www.edb.gov.sg/edb/sg/en_uk/index/news/articles/sedb_calls_for_expressions_of_interest_for_galleries_to_set_up_in_gillman_barracks.html
4. Poon, C. H. (2011, June 19). Home for art galleries at Gillman Barracks. The Straits Times. Retrieved October 25, 2011, from Factiva.
5. "About Gillman Barracks". Gillman Barracks. Retrieved 2015-09-08.
6. Shetty, Deepkia (11 April 2015). "Nearly a third of Gillman Barracks galleries have decided not to renew their leases". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
7. Shetty, Deepkia (2 February 2016). "Home-grown brands Supermama and Creamier open at Gillman Barracks". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
8. "Gillman Barracks Tours". Gillman Barracks. Retrieved 2015-09-08.
9. "Gillman Barracks Galleries". Gillman Barracks. Retrieved 2015-09-08.
10. https://www.gillmanbarracks.com/art-galleries
11. "School of Art, Design and Media: NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore". NTU School of Art, Design and Media. Nanyang Technological University.