Media Room

For the first time since the onset of the pandemic two years ago, Gardens by the Bay is bringing back a calendar year of full-scale floral displays to Flower Dome as it celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2022. The Gardens first opened its doors to the public in 2012.

Even with budget and supply chain restrictions caused by the pandemic, over the last two years, Gardens by the Bay has continued to put up some floral displays in Flower Dome featuring flowers such as dahlias, sakura, tulips and poinsettias. In 2022, the Gardens has planned eight full-scale floral displays. These include crowd favourites such as Dahlia Dreams (the first to open on January 14, just in time for Chinese New Year) and Sakura, as well as two new floral displays featuring peonies and hydrangeas – flowers which have never been the theme of a show before.

The eight floral displays of 2022 are:

• Dahlia Dreams (大丽花之梦) (14 January to 20 February)
• Sakura featuring tokidoki characters (樱花) (4 March to 3 April)
• Peony Bliss (牡丹福佑) (9 April to 3 May)
• Rose Romance (玫瑰之恋) (13 May to 19 June)
• Hydrangea Holidays (绣球花假期) (25 June to 24 July)
• Hanging Gardens (百花齐放) (5 August to 18 September)
• A Spanish Serenade with Sunflowers (西班牙葵花小夜曲) (24 September to 30 October)
• Poinsettia Wishes (圣诞心愿) (11 November to 2 January 2023)
  
  

Gardens by the Bay is indebted to the financial support of Bloomberg and other generous members of the local community, to be able to bring back a calendar year of full-scale floral displays in spite of the uncertainties of 2022, for visitors to enjoy. 

Gardens by the Bay’s Senior Director of Horticultural Operations Gary Chua said, “It has been challenging for our horticulturists to work with both supply chain and budget constraints over the last two years. Gardens by the Bay would like to thank our donors for enabling us to finally put together a calendar year of full-scale floral displays in 2022. We are grateful to our donors for sharing our vision of the importance of nature to soothe the mind and spirit. The eight floral displays next year are a way to thank Singaporeans who have been so supportive of Gardens by the Bay over the past 10 years, and there will be something for everyone, be it unique elements of a foreign culture, cute Instagrammable characters, or brand new flowers.”

Visitors can anticipate meaningful cultural sharing from around the world with at least half of the year’s floral displays. In line with Gardens by the Bay’s objective to bring the world to Singapore, four floral displays will be held in collaboration with international embassies in Singapore.

For the first time, Gardens by the Bay is working with the Embassy of Spain for A Spanish Serenade with Sunflowers and the Embassy of Mexico for Hanging Gardens. Hydrangea Holidays is a collaboration with the Netherlands Embassy, and the four Nordic embassies in Singapore – Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Sweden – will be coming on board again for the yuletide Poinsettia Wishes floral display.

In addition, the Sakura floral display in 2022 will feature tokidoki characters for the first time.

Gardens by the Bay’s popular Christmas floral display Poinsettia Wishes opens today and features a brand new theme of whimsical, larger-than-life sweet treats to end a heavy-going year on an effervescent note.

The floral display, which runs until January 3 next year, features a stunning 8m-tall cupcake Ferris wheel, a playful candied apple Christmas carriage and giant candy canes, all set amidst festive plants such as poinsettias, cyclamens, skimmias, violas, helleborus and real Christmas trees.

With the support of the four Nordic Embassies in Singapore – Royal Danish Embassy, Embassy of Finland, Royal Norwegian Embassy and Embassy of Sweden – the camera-ready floral display also has adorable gingerbread decorations in the shape of animals found in the Nordic region, as well as beloved Christmas recipes shared personally by the Nordic Ambassadors.

At the launch event today, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Ministry of National Development Sim Ann, together with the Nordic Ambassadors, opened the display with a “snow” tossing ceremony.

Senior Minister of State Sim Ann also participated in a virtual snow globe-making workshop together with 30 beneficiaries from Aphasia SG, Fei Yue Community Services and Extra.Ordinary People Limited, and previewed some of the complimentary musical performances that Gardens by the Bay will be bringing to the community in December.

A diversity of programmes for the community

These activities are part of the year-end celebrations at Gardens by the Bay, in the hope of rounding off the year on a sweet note for the community.

The virtual snow globe-making workshops are part of Gardens by the Bay’s community outreach programme Gift of Gardens, which reaches out to the less privileged and those with special needs through the contributions of individual and corporate donors. These virtual workshops, which will take place throughout the months of December this year and January next year, will extend to close to 800 beneficiaries from six social service agencies and community partners.

Adding on to the festive atmosphere is a diverse series of complimentary music performances and activities for the public to enjoy through the month of December.

There will be Finnish Santa meet-and-greet sessions with the public in collaboration with the Embassy of Finland, a musical performance in partnership with the Norwegian Cultural Centre, and a St Lucia choir performance by the Swedish Women's Educational Association International, Inc.

Visitors can also celebrate Christmas with a difference by supporting performers such as visually-impaired musician Adelyn Koh and The Salvation Army Band. These performances are supported by Tote Board and National Arts Council.

Complementing the festive experience at the Gardens are workshops that the public can sign up for, ranging from Christmas wreath making and floral arrangements, to botanical watercolour art and nature weaving.

As a tribute to healthcare workers, Gardens by the Bay is partnering with Temasek Foundation to offer discounted entry into Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. Healthcare workers can spend time with their loved ones and purchase up to four tickets at 50 per cent off, for visits from 13 December 2021 to end March 2022.

Gardens by the Bay Deputy CEO Lee Kok Fatt said, “With 2021 being a challenging year for everyone, Gardens by the Bay hopes to uplift the spirits with a light-hearted and joyful Poinsettia Wishes floral display, which Singaporeans can enjoy with their SingapoRediscovers vouchers, along with other attractions within the Gardens. We are also pleased to partner with Temasek Foundation to offer our healthcare workers special rates to the cooled conservatories as a show of appreciation for their hard work. Together with the diversity of fun activities for the community, we look forward to capping off the year on a sweet note for one and all.”

Families with children can also look forward to Singapore’s biggest festive event Christmas Wonderland, which will make a return this year on December 3 with a new array of stunning light displays and festive offerings at Supertree Grove, and a bouncing good time at Jumptopia: Wonder Garden, a fun-filled experience by Kiztopia that will open at Bayfront Pavilion on December 20.

Safety remains a priority

Visitor safety remains a priority for Gardens by the Bay. All visitors must comply with prevailing Covid-19 guidelines, including the wearing of masks even during photo-taking, not gathering in groups of more than five people, and observing a safe distance of 1m from other visitors.

In addition to timed entry, other safety measures for gated attractions include:

• Capacity limits
• Temperature screening
• Safe distancing of 1m and floor markers to guide people in complying
• Automatic entry and exit doors
• Self-disinfecting coating on commonly touched surfaces like lift buttons and escalator railings
• Sanitisation of public amenities like toilets every hour
• Hand sanitisers available at all entrances, exits and high contact areas
• Equipping the air-chilling system in Cloud Forest and Flower Dome with high performance germicidal Ultra Violet (C) emitters similar to those used in healthcare institutions to improve air quality

For more information, visit www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/christmas.

Please refer to the Annex for information on the year-end highlights at Gardens by the Bay.

Mr Hironari Abe

Managing Director of Kikkoman Corporation Singapore

Mr Felix Loh

CEO of Gardens by the Bay

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen

Today, I am glad to open Kingfisher Wetlands, our latest enhancement to Gardens by the Bay.

Since it opened in 2012, Gardens by the Bay has become an iconic part of our city skyline, and a symbol of Singapore. Located on prime land in the heart of the city, it demonstrates our determination to keep spaces lush and green for Singaporeans to enjoy, even as we continue to develop.

Gardens by the Bay has also provided a place for people to get out for some respite and recreation amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, it has safely welcomed more than 10 million visits since April 2020.

At the same time, the Gardens hosts rich biodiversity. It is home to more than one million plants, and charismatic native wildlife such as the lesser whistling duck and the smooth-coated otter. And over 130 species of birds have also been recorded here! For this, we have to thank our urban planners and horticulturists, who have transformed and nurtured the Gardens from reclaimed land, into a lush habitat.

But we are not stopping here. We continue to improve the Gardens, with regular floral shows, pop-up events and exhibits, as well as new and enhanced facilities and spaces.

The new Kingfisher Wetlands are an example of such an enhancement.

When Gardens by the Bay was first developed, this area had two isolated water bodies - Kingfisher Lake and Lotus Pond. Over the years, the area has come to host a diversity of wildlife.

To enhance the habitats to create the new Kingfisher Wetlands, the Gardens by the Bay team connected Kingfisher Lake and Lotus Pond, and planted native trees.

The team has added new water cascades and streams between the waterbodies, to improve the area’s water quality and circulation, and to create new microhabitats for biodiversity to flourish. This was done in an environmentally sensitive manner to minimise the impact on the area’s existing biodiversity. For example, the team has aligned the water cascades so that existing large trees at the site can be retained.

In addition, the team has planted more than 200 native mangroves. These include familiar species such as the Nipah palm, the source of the attap chee  seeds found in our local desserts, as well as critically endangered native mangrove species, such as the Upriver Orange Mangrove.

Besides strengthening our nature conservation efforts, the Wetlands can also be accessed by the public for nature-based recreation. The area features a new wildlife look-out and educational signage so that visitors of all ages can get up close to nature.

The Kingfisher Wetlands contribute to our efforts to transform Singapore into a City in Nature, through which we are weaving nature more intensively into our urban fabric – even in the heart of downtown.

Besides providing more habitats for biodiversity and a place for Singaporeans to enjoy nature, the Wetlands’ mangroves also support our national sustainability efforts in another way.

Gardens by the Bay is partnering the NUS Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions and DHI Water and Environment, to use Kingfisher Wetlands for research and as a testbed for sustainability solutions.

Specifically, researchers will use the Wetlands to explore potential “blue carbon” solutions – which capture and store carbon in coastal and marine ecosystems.

In fact, the Gardens by the Bay team has already conducted some surveys on the carbon content in the existing man-made ponds in the Gardens. Results showed that the carbon content of the ponds’ underwater soil sediment is comparable to what is found in other natural wetland habitats, which are very efficient at storing carbon. By using the Kingfisher Wetlands as a living laboratory, we can further explore how best to maximise the potential of our man-made wetlands for long-term carbon storage.

This is part of our efforts to actively support research into blue carbon science. Such research can help us to lower our carbon footprint and help mitigate climate change. We can also potentially share our know-how with regional partners and collaborate on projects together.

The Kingfisher Wetlands project is also a good example of how the public and private sectors have come together to advance sustainability. Let me thank all the sponsors and supporters of the Kingfisher Wetlands.

In particular, I would like to acknowledge Kikkoman Corporation’s strong support for this project. Kikkoman has been a long-standing partner of Gardens by the Bay. In fact, in 2010, Kikkoman funded the development of Kingfisher Lake, one of the two waterbodies that is now part of the Kingfisher Wetlands. Kikkoman’s latest contribution, which commemorates its 35^th anniversary here in Singapore, was key to the Wetlands’ enhancement works.

In addition, Temasek is supporting Gardens by the Bay’s research efforts on blue carbon.

Thank you all for your generosity.

The community, too, can play a part in the sustainability efforts here at the Gardens. With the support of the SG Eco Fund, Gardens by the Bay will organise community tree planting and citizen science biodiversity monitoring sessions at the Kingfisher Wetlands. The Gardens will release more information on how you can sign up for these activities soon.

I hope you and your friends and family will enjoy these enhancements at Kingfisher Wetlands.

Let’s continue on our sustainability journey, and work together to transform Singapore into a City in Nature.

Thank you.

Kikkoman Singapore, the local manufacturing facility of Japan-based soy sauce manufacturer Kikkoman Corporation, today announced a S$0.5 million sponsorship for the development of the Kingfisher Wetlands, a new nature sanctuary at Gardens by the Bay. This sponsorship serves to commemorate Kikkoman’s 35 years of friendship with Singapore.

A symbolic cheque presentation took place today as part of the donation ceremony for Kingfisher Wetlands from Mr Hironari Abe, Managing Director of Kikkoman Singapore to Mr Felix Loh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gardens by the Bay.  

Kingfisher Wetlands is situated along the waterfront promenade of Gardens by the Bay, next to the popular Satay by the Bay and near the upcoming Gardens by the Bay MRT station on the Thomson-East Coast line. The 15,000 sq m nature sanctuary – slightly bigger than the size of two football pitches – features more than 200 native true mangrove trees and mangrove associates planted amidst newly-created water cascades and streamlets, as well as a wildlife lookout that bird-watchers and nature photographers will enjoy. There is also educational signage to allow visitors to gain a greater understanding of frequently-spotted wildlife in the area.

Reconnecting people with nature 

The Covid-19 pandemic has seen more people looking to nature for respite and recreation. This growing interest in nature is reflected in the visitorship to Gardens by the Bay, which has welcomed more than 10 million visitors since the circuit breaker in April 2020.

The development of Kingfisher Wetlands is part of continuous efforts to enhance and enrich the Gardens and to provide the public with new nature-rich areas to explore.

While the original site was a popular bird-watching spot for many in the Singapore birding community and also frequented by nature photographers, it was isolated and often missed by the general public. With the donation from Kikkoman, the development works for Kingfisher Wetlands segued the existing area with the surrounding landscape, making it more accessible to visitors.

As one of the rare wetland areas located right in the city centre, it is hoped that Kingfisher Wetlands will enable more people to get up close to nature and nurture an appreciation for the diversity of flora and fauna in Singapore. 

Promoting biodiversity

Over the years, the site has come to host a diversity of wildlife, including the Smooth-Coated Otter, Lesser Whistling Duck and Malayan Monitor Lizard. The bird monitoring programme of Gardens by the Bay has also recorded over 130 species of birds – almost one-third of the bird species found in Singapore – and 16 out of 40 migratory species spotted in Singapore are known to visit this area.

To enhance the habitats to create Kingfisher Wetlands, work was done to connect the site’s two existing waterbodies, Lotus Pond and Kingfisher Lake. New water cascades and streamlets were established to improve water circulation and aeration, and to create new microhabitats for biodiversity to flourish.

Planting mangroves for “blue” carbon 

With the planting of native and endangered species of true mangroves and mangrove associates – including native, critically endangered species such as the Firefly Mangrove (Sonneratia caseolaris) and Upriver Orange Mangrove (Bruguiera sexangula) – Kingfisher Wetlands is also making a contribution to the environment in terms of carbon sequestration and storage.

By taking in carbon, mangroves are a natural way of reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Mangroves are known to be able to sequester more carbon than rainforests, with most of this carbon stored in their roots. This is what is known as “blue” carbon – the carbon captured by ocean and coastal ecosystems.

As part of the ground work to develop Kingfisher Wetlands, initial surveys of the soil carbon content were carried out in some of the waterbodies in Gardens by the Bay. The results showed that although these were reclaimed ecosystems, they are functioning very well, on a scale similar to some of Singapore’s natural coastal systems such as mangrove and seagrass habitats. Such findings are promising, and suggest the potential of urban eco-systems like the Kingfisher Wetlands to store carbon in the long term.

Mr Osamu Mogi, Director and Senior Executive Corporate Officer of Kikkoman Corporation, said: “In Gardens by the Bay, water run-off is captured by the lake system and cleansed by aquatic plants before being discharged into the reservoir. These plants play an important role in providing clean water. Water is also crucial in what we, Kikkoman, do in our business. We have always produced soy sauce using water of the highest quality. And so, we recognise how essential water is, and it is with great pleasure that we make this donation to Gardens by the Bay.”

Elaborating on the reason for the sponsorship, Mr. Mogi said that Kikkoman strives to uphold its philosophy of maintaining harmony with the environment. Supporting the development of Kingfisher Wetlands is aligned with Kikkoman’s corporate social responsibility policy, which upholds values such as improving society and protecting the environment and water.

Mr Felix Loh, CEO of Gardens by the Bay, said: “We are grateful to Kikkoman for their generous contribution to a shared vision of promoting greater biodiversity and sustainability in Singapore, and making nature-based recreation accessible to the public. We hope the new Kingfisher Wetlands, developed along the popular Round Island cycling Route, will raise awareness among the local community to cherish the richness of wildlife that can be found in the heart of the city.”

In November 2010, Kikkoman marked its 25th Anniversary celebrations in Singapore by donating S$1 million to the Garden City Fund for the development of Kingfisher Lake and in 2015, it made a $0.5 million contribution to the development of the Sungei Buloh Wetlands Mangrove Arboretum. 

After a hiatus of a year, Tulipmania, the popular annual display in Gardens by the Bay’s Flower Dome, returns today with a focus on Kazakhstan. After all, unknown to many, the history of tulips can be traced back to the first appearance of wild tulips in Central Asia. Last held in 2019 and originally scheduled to take place again in April 2020, Tulipmania had been put on hold because of the disruptions caused by the pandemic.

At this year's display, called Tulipmania – Its Wild Origins (梦幻郁金香), visitors can imagine themselves following in the footsteps of Kazakh nomadic tribes, who once traipsed across the foothills of Tien Shan, the great mountain system of Central Asia and the place where tulips were believed to have first appeared. 

Tulipmania – Its Wild Origins will run until November 14. For the first time, there will be an online component, and visitors can watch videos of the floral display from the comfort of their homes. These videos will be posted on Gardens by the Bay’s Facebook and website progressively from 7 October.

At the launch event today, Minister, Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance and Second Minister for National Development Indranee Rajah joined Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Singapore, His Excellency Arken Arystanov, as well as Gardens by the Bay Chairman Niam Chiang Meng in unveiling the centrepiece of the floral display, a 4m-tall yurt.

The yurt is a dwelling of nomadic Kazakhs that can be easily assembled, providing a comfortable space. The yurt on display is a cross-section of an actual yurt, and is on loan from the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Singapore. It was built in accordance with traditional techniques without the use of nails or screws.

Gardens by the Bay CEO Felix Loh, said, “Many Singaporeans have been looking forward to seeing tulips at Gardens by the Bay again. Our horticulturists have been working hard to bring this display to fruition with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. We hope the return of beautiful tulips will lift spirits in this difficult period, and ask that visitors enjoy themselves while keeping to safe distancing measures. For our visitors including seniors who may not be able to come, we are offering the option of experiencing the beauty of tulips online through a series of videos.”

With this year’s Tulipmania being held in October instead of April, Gardens by the Bay has sourced tulips from New Zealand instead of the Netherlands. This time of the year is regarded as autumn in countries in the Northern hemisphere, but in New Zealand, which is in the Southern hemisphere, it is springtime and tulips are in bloom.

Whether online or in person, visitors can look forward to enjoying a variety of tulips, including some resembling the wild tulips growing across Tien Shan, as well as perennial favourites such as ‘Yellow Flight’ and ‘Foxtrot’, which have the single tulip and double tulip forms that most people are more familiar with.

Also within the floral display is a depiction of a bazaar that represents Kazakhstan's role as a trading hub and cultural melting-pot along the Silk Route, as well as towers and gates inspired by Timurid dynasty architecture, featuring blue and turquoise geometric patterns that symbolise clear Kazakhstan skies and waters.

Visitor safety remains a priority for Gardens by the Bay. All visitors must comply with prevailing Covid-19 guidelines, including the wearing of masks even during photo-taking, not gathering in groups of more than two people, and observing a safe distance of 1m from other visitors.

In addition to timed entry, other safety measures for gated attractions include:

• Capacity limits
• Temperature screening
• Safe distancing of 1m and floor markers to guide people in complying
• Automatic entry and exit doors
• Self-disinfecting coating on commonly touched surfaces like lift buttons and escalator railings
• Sanitisation of public amenities like toilets every hour
• Hand sanitisers available at all entrances, exits and high contact areas
• Equipping the air-chilling system in Cloud Forest and Flower Dome with high performance germicidal Ultra Violet (C) emitters similar to those used in healthcare institutions to improve air quality

Mid-Autumn Festival 2021 (滨海花园庆中秋) at Gardens by the Bay launched today with a light-up of the showstopper lantern set Sky Lanterns  (祈福天灯), where 70 lanterns float up the Supertrees at the Gardens’ main entrance. At 32m wide and 19m tall, Sky Lanterns is the largest lantern set this year. Inspired by the eponymous Chinese lanterns that are traditionally released to the sky in hopes of good blessings, Sky Lanterns represents the theme of this year’s festival - blessings (祈福).

Mid-Autumn Festival 2021 will run from today until October 3. Minister of State for National Development and for Communications and Information Tan Kiat How was guest of honour at the launch.

Lanterns and community displays convey the theme of blessings

This year’s Mid-Autumn Festival features nine lantern sets and community displays spread across the outdoor gardens and Flower Dome. The main entrance of Gardens by the Bay is enhanced by Sky Lanterns and Rabbits Trail (祥兔之径), a series of eight rabbit-shaped lanterns that lead the way to Flower Dome, where more rabbits await. After all, rabbits are often associated with filial piety and selflessness in Chinese culture. 

Within Flower Dome, visitors will see Rabbits’ Forest (玉兔呈祥), inspired by the ancient Chinese folk game Blessings Upon the One who Meets a Rabbit (遇兔呈祥), in which the first person to find a rabbit in the osmanthus forest is said to receive good blessings. Meanwhile, Miffy Gardens (米菲花园) features the well-loved character Miffy and her family and friends. There will be special meet and greet sessions with Miffy in Flower Dome (refer to Annex A for details).

The work of the community is displayed in Origami Crane Trees (千鹤祈愿), featuring 2,000 colourful paper cranes folded and penned with words of blessings by individuals from social service agencies and Gardens by the Bay volunteers.

Complementing the lanterns and community set in Flower Dome is a floral display of chrysanthemums in vivid hues of red, pink, orange and yellow. The chrysanthemum is a symbolic element in traditional Chinese art to depict the autumn season. 

In celebration of Mid-Autumn Festival and to give families more opportunities to bond, children aged 12 and below enjoy free entry to Flower Dome from today until October 3. Tickets for children must be pre-booked from Gardens by the Bay’s website or mobile app, and a valid student card is required for proof of identity before entry (refer to Annex A for details).

Outside Flower Dome, there is Korean Genre Painting (韩国风俗画), a hybrid lantern set where digitalised paintings by traditional Korean artists Kim Hong-do and Kim Jun-geun are set against the backdrop of two hanok lantern frames. The hanok is a traditional Korean house. This lantern set is presented in partnership with Embassy of the Republic of Korea and Korea Tourism Organization. 

Over at the Supertree Grove, the Colonnade of Lights (灯廊) community lantern display showcases 1,000 beautiful paper lanterns hand-painted by people from 28 social service agencies. At Active Garden, community art installations involving over 50 schools and social service agencies are on display. This upcycling effort, created from used plastic bottles, is put together by Extra•Ordinary People, a charity which supports children and individuals with special needs. Located near Bayfront Plaza, AIRMESH, an award-winning lantern-inspired pavilion designed by lecturers from the Singapore University of Technology and Design, will be lit up during this period for photo opportunities.

Gardens by the Bay’s Senior Director of Programming and Events Chua Yen Ling said, “We have all been challenged by the pandemic in one way or another, and in difficult times Gardens by the Bay hopes to convey blessings of well wishes to one and all. Amidst a period of constant change, the return of the ninth edition of the Gardens’ well-loved Mid-Autumn Festival with safety considerations will hopefully bring a sense of familiarity and joy to the community.”

A wide variety of activities

Beyond lanterns, six local performing arts groups supported by National Arts Council will mesmerise the audience with cultural performances in Flower Field Hall. The line-up of performers include PB&J, Singapore’s only indie crossover band; A Bigger Bang - The Percussion Assembly, a dynamic percussion group; and Singapore Chinese Dance Theatre, a homegrown professional Chinese dance company. These cultural performances will be streamed online on Gardens by the Bay’s Facebook too.

Visitors can also enjoy Tales of the Moon, a Mid-Autumn edition of the popular free Garden Rhapsody light and sound show at Supertree Grove.

This year’s Mid-Autumn will be a special one as visitors have the opportunity to experience a variety of events at Gardens by the Bay. The giant inflatable art sculptures of the ongoing Children’s Festival featuring Art-Zoo Wonder Gardens will be lit up in the evening during this period. The Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom exhibition has also been extended until October 3. 

A safe Mid-Autumn celebration

Safety remains a priority at Mid-Autumn Festival 2021:

• The lantern sets and community displays are spread out across different locations to avoid overcrowding.

• Safe distancing ambassadors are deployed to remind visitors of safe management measures.

• For the cultural performances in Flower Field Hall and Miffy meet and greet sessions in Flower Dome, there is a capacity limit and pre-registration is required. Admission is only for fully vaccinated visitors, visitors with negative PET results within 24 hours from the end of performance / session, or visitors with proof of recovery from Covid-19.
   

Mid-Autumn Festival 2021 is organised by Gardens by the Bay, in collaboration with the Chinese Media Group of Singapore Press Holdings, Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Korea Tourism Organization, National Arts Council, Singapore University of Technology and Design, and Tote Board.

For more information, visit www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/midautumn.

Please refer to:

• Annex A for more information on Mid-Autumn Festival 2021
• Annex B for descriptions of the lantern sets
• Annex C for the list of cultural programmes

After a hiatus of one year, Gardens by the Bay’s annual Children’s Festival returns to Supertree Grove in time for the September school holidays. Children’s Festival featuring Art-Zoo Wonder Gardens will run from today until October 3, and features giant inflatable art sculptures of the six characters of Art-Zoo Wonder Gardens: Bruno Bear, Little Kong, Cheerful Caterpillar, Radiant Rhino Beetle, Super Speedy Snail and the Lovely Ladybirds. Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing officially opened Children’s Festival featuring Art-Zoo Wonder Gardens today.

An accessible space for all families

With the focus on making Gardens by the Bay accessible to families, Children’s Festival featuring Art-Zoo Wonder Gardens is free. No pre-booking of admission time slots is required. Kids can pick up a trail map to complete the activities that involve each of the six Art-Zoo Wonder Gardens characters at their own pace to receive a souvenir. For families who want to experience even more activities, there is also a series of Little Critters’ Wonder Workshops priced at $16 per child on weekends.

Beyond Children’s Festival featuring Art-Zoo Wonder Gardens, Hustle & Bustle, the organisers of the ongoing Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom exhibition will also be extending free entry to children, allowing families more opportunities to bond with their kids amidst nature, as well as expose them to art from an early age. The Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom exhibition features large-scale glass sculptures by renowned American artist Dale Chihuly.

From September 5 until October 3, each adult with a valid Outdoor Gardens and Gallery ticket can redeem the same ticket for up to two children age of 12 and below at no charge. Tickets for children can be redeemed at the exhibition’s ticketed entrance points at Entrance A (Meadow Carpark), Entrance B (Meadow Bridge), Entrance C (World of Palms) and Bayfront Pavilion Entrance. A valid student card is required for proof of identity. More information on this initiative is at www.chihulyinbloom.com.

In addition, in a collaboration with Extra•Ordinary People, a charity which supports children and individuals with special needs, more than 4,000 people in the community - including children from eight Special Education schools - have transformed used plastic bottles into sculptures inspired by Chihuly's artworks. These sculptures have been assembled into community art installations which are on display at the exhibition grounds in the Outdoor Gardens.

Safe play in the outdoors

Last year’s Children’s Festival was postponed because of the pandemic, while this year’s Children’s Festival featuring Art-Zoo Wonder Gardens was originally planned for the June school holidays. With Singapore moving out of Phase 2 Heightened Alert, the Children’s Festival can finally make a comeback during the September school holidays.

The entire Children’s Festival featuring Art-Zoo Wonder Gardens is held in the outdoors and to avoid overcrowding, the Art-Zoo Wonder Gardens characters are spread out across the vast Supertree Grove. For health and safety reasons, as well as to minimise interaction between visitors, the inflatable art sculptures cannot be jumped on.

The design of Art-Zoo Wonder Gardens was influenced by research about children and play done in collaboration with DesignSingapore Council.

Gardens by the Bay Senior Director of Programming and Events Chua Yen Ling said, “After various obstacles brought on by the pandemic, Gardens by the Bay is glad to be able to bring back our well-loved Children’s Festival. It has been a challenging time for everyone, perhaps more so for children who have had to forgo some of the joys of being a child in order to adjust to the restrictions of the pandemic period. We hope kids can have some much-needed fun in the outdoors with the adorable Art-Zoo Wonder Gardens characters set amidst nature.”

For more information, visit www.gardensbythebay.com/childrensfestival.

Children’s Festival featuring Art-Zoo Wonder Gardens

Date: Saturday, 4 September to Sunday, 3 October

Time: 10am to 7pm

Location: Supertree Grove

Details: Free access. Fees for workshops apply.

Please refer to the Annex for full details of Gardens by the Bay’s Children’s Festival featuring Art-Zoo
Wonder Gardens, as well as the free entry for children to Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom.

Following the broadcast of the Gardens by the Bay and Mediacorp National Day Concert last Monday, Singaporeans can continue with celebrations a virtual performance released by Gardens by the Bay.

Gardens by the Bay National Day Virtual Performance features the newly-released Mandarin song Take Flight (再度启航), performed by local artiste Jake Goh (吴家慷) from Singapore record label Ocean Butterflies Music. The song, about overcoming difficulties to emerge stronger, is composed by Sun Xueling.

The National Day Virtual Performance is set in the beta version of Gardens by the Bay’s Digital Twin, where iconic attractions such as the Supertree Grove have been digitally recreated by Electronic Sports Private Limited in a whimsical, futuristic backdrop. Users can “step into” the virtual world and explore the Supertree Grove as Jake Goh performs the song with various special effects in the background. Gardens by the Bay’s Digital Twin is being developed on Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, the same game engine behind the globally popular game Fortnite. 

The National Day Virtual Performance can be downloaded from www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/takeflight for installation on Windows computers or laptops. Please refer to the Annex for system requirements.

DCEO of Gardens by the Bay Lee Kok Fatt, said, “Gardens by the Bay’s Digital Twin enables us to explore many more ways to engage our audience beyond the confines of our physical space, and to offer interactive hybrid experiences for our visitors. The Gardens by the Bay National Day Virtual Performance is the first showcase of an application of our Digital Twin. It allows concerts to be held digitally in the new post-Covid normal, where artistes can perform to large audiences without physical limitations. We are looking forward to offer this digital platform for collaboration with various technology and content partners, and are excited by the many possibilities for education and engagement.”

Gardens by the Bay’s Digital Twin will also be the setting for an educational virtual tour around the Gardens. A beta version of this interactive virtual tour has been developed for Canberra Primary School for students to learn about Gardens by the Bay’s sustainability features. A similar virtual experience will be made available to all schools later this year.

The National Day Virtual Performance, without the interactive element, is available on www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/takeflight as a music video. In addition, in collaboration with Pan Pacific Hotels Group, there is a contest that will run until 8 September 2021. Viewers can watch the Virtual Performance and answer a series of questions for a chance to win staycations at three hotels – Pan Pacific Singapore, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay and PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering.

The National Day Virtual Performance is also made possible with support from Prestige Dynamics, GHY Culture & Media, and other sponsors.

For more information on Take Flight and technical information about downloading the National Day Virtual Performance, please refer to the Annex.

This August, all practising nurses in Singapore can enjoy complimentary entry to Gardens by the Bay’s Cloud Forest and Flower Dome, as well as the Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom exhibition. The ongoing exhibition of renowned American artist Dale Chihuly’s glass sculptures, which are showcased in both the cooled conservatories as well as throughout the outdoor gardens, has been extended until October 3.

The treat for nurses, which will run from August 14 to August 31, is a way for Gardens by the Bay to pay tribute to their hard work during the pandemic, especially as Singapore emerges out of the challenging period of Phase 2 Heightened Alert. 

This is the second year that Gardens by the Bay is giving complimentary entry to its gated attractions to practising nurses. The initiative was originally inspired by the experience of several of the Gardens’ staff working with frontline healthcare workers at a Community Care Facility for Covid-19 patients during last year’s circuit breaker.

Gardens by the Bay’s Deputy CEO Lee Kok Fatt said, “The complimentary entry for nurses in August is Gardens by the Bay’s way of thanking a profession that is symbolic of dedication and resilience. The past month or so has been difficult for everyone, and we hope to spread some much-needed good cheer and uplift the spirit with the beauty of nature, especially in the month of Singapore’s birthday.”

For nurses who intend to visit Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, they will need to go to Gardens by the Bay’s website or mobile app to pre-book their time slot prior to their intended day of visit, and flash a valid Singapore Nursing Board practising certificate card at the entrance to gain entry. 

The highlights at the cooled conservatories include the newly-opened Orchid Haven in Cloud Forest, as well as the new orchid-themed floral display in Flower Dome. This orchid display will feature varieties in bright splashes of colour such as Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim 'Agnes' and Dendrobium Candy Stripe in shades of pink, as well as orchids like Renanopsis Five Friendships Tanaosri and Aranda Singa Gold in vibrant hues of orange, yellow and red.

For nurses who intend to visit the Dale Chihuly: Glass In Bloom exhibition at the outdoor gardens, they can present their Singapore Nursing Board practising certificate card to redeem tickets at four locations. For more details on these locations, visit www.chihulyinbloom.com. The locations are:

• Gate A (Meadow car park)
• Gate B (Meadow bridge)
• Gate C (World of Palms)
• Bayfront Pavilion entrance

Orchid Haven, a new 280 sqm space within Gardens by the Bay’s Cloud Forest cooled conservatory, was launched by Minister for National Development Desmond Lee today. It is a dedicated space to host Cloud Forest’s changing orchid displays as well as permanent orchid exhibits, with more than 1,000 orchids on show at any one time. This is the first time since 2017 that a major area has been revamped in Cloud Forest.

With the growing popularity of Cloud Forest’s changing orchid displays, which have been bringing to Singapore a plethora of beautiful and sometimes rare orchids from Central and South America to East Asia for the past four years, horticulturists recognised the need to carve out more space to showcase orchids. The new Orchid Haven is about three times the size of the original space for changing orchid displays.

After all, Orchidaceae is one of the largest families of flowering plants, and orchids have a long history in Singapore. Gardens by the Bay also has an extensive and diverse collection of orchids, as well as its own orchid hybridisation programme.

Gardens by the Bay’s CEO Felix Loh said, “My kudos to our team of horticulturists for working painstakingly to keep Gardens by the Bay going despite the challenges thrown up by the pandemic. Our latest creation Orchid Haven is a way for our horticulturists to pay tribute to the nation on its 56th birthday, and amidst the current setback, the Flight of the Moth Orchid display expresses our confidence that Singapore will soar again in our battle against the pandemic.”

Flight of the Moth Orchid

Flight of the Moth Orchid, the first changing orchid display in the new Orchid Haven, is a tribute to the Phalaenopsis orchid, a diverse genus whose floral form resembles that of a moth in flight. In this display, more than 800 Phalaenopsis orchids of 17 taxa are showcased in a breathtaking “waterfall” of cascading blooms.

The Phalaenopsis is a popular orchid among both orchid enthusiasts, as well as breeders whose focus is on producing ever more innovative hybrids. In fact, the orchids in Flight of the Moth Orchid have been arranged to show how the morphology of the Phalaenopsis has evolved through the years, from its original look to the distinct and dramatic characteristics that breeders have coaxed out of hybrids. Phalaenopsis hybrids are known for bright colours, peculiar patterns and markings, as well as floral mutations that result in even more stunning varieties.

In the run up to National Day, the Flight of the Moth Orchid display is also a nod to the Singapore’s orchid industry’s history of producing some of the region’s earliest orchid hybridisation successes since pre-independence days. In fact, by the end of the 19th century, the emergence of novel and popular orchid hybrids had put Singapore on the world map because of the innovation and creativity of our breeders. Building on this legacy, Singapore – including horticulturists at Gardens by the Bay – continues to develop new breeding lines, as orchid hybridisation progresses in Asia and beyond.

Please refer to the Annex for more details on the Flight of the Moth Orchid display.

Join us in celebrating Singapore’s 56th birthday with the Gardens by the Bay and Mediacorp National Day Concert 2021 on 9 August, which will feature star-studded performances set against the verdant backdrop of Gardens by the Bay’s iconic attractions.

Centred on young musical talent, this collaboration between Gardens by the Bay and Mediacorp, which is into its third year, aims to bring Singaporeans together through a forward-looking showcase of rising local stars that also underscores our shared sense of belonging. The inaugural concert in 2019 saw more than 60,000 people coming together at The Meadow in the Gardens to celebrate our nation’s birthday, while last year’s virtual edition, which took place in a different climate due to the COVID-19 pandemic, garnered an even wider audience via meWATCH, Channel 5 and Mediacorp Entertainment Youtube.

This year’s concert will be graced by Guest-of-Honour President Halimah Yacob and Mr Mohamed Abdullah Alhabshee, and anchored by exhilarating performances at the Supertree Grove, Flower Dome, Cloud Forest, Floral Fantasy and outdoor gardens. The entire show will be produced with all necessary safe management measures in place, and viewers can enjoy the performances from the comfort and safety of their homes or on the go via Mediacorp's multiple platforms on 9 August at 8pm. Please refer to Annex A for viewing details.

President Halimah said: “In spite of challenges brought on by the pandemic, Gardens by the Bay and Mediacorp have sought to connect Singaporeans through engaging programmes such as the National Day Concert. I hope this year’s concert, with its forward-looking theme, will continue to rally our nation and encourage all of us to stay strong, united, and push ahead together towards a better future.”

Felix Loh, CEO, Gardens by the Bay, said: “This pandemic has re-engaged many of us with nature and enabled us to better appreciate our living environment. We are thankful that our Gardens has retained its popularity with our local community. We wish for this year’s digital edition, showcasing our Gardens’ physical beauty, brought to life by our home-grown Mediacorp talents, will unite everyone in believing that our best days are just ahead of us."

Tham Loke Kheng, CEO, Mediacorp said: “Mediacorp is delighted to celebrate Singapore’s birthday for the third time with Gardens by the Bay. This collaborative effort showcasing our local creative talent and the beauty of Gardens by the Bay is our homage to Singapore, and to fellow Singaporeans. Despite the current circumstances, we hope audiences will join us to mark our National Day, keep our spirits up and look forward to brighter days ahead.”

Hosted by Class 95 DJ Jean Danker, the one-hour programme promises a spectacular showcase of local talents in the creative industry, with a focus on next-generation hotshots such as up-and-coming R&B musician Keyana; and the latest real-life ‘IT’ couple, heartthrob singer-actor Gavin Teo and second-generation rising star Chen Yixin, who will be performing Crowd Lu’s ‘幾分之幾 You Complete Me’ together at the scenic Dragonfly Lake.

Not to be missed is a key segment featuring popular Mediacorp actress Rebecca Lim, who will perform a rousing rendition of Corrine May’s uplifting National Day Song, ‘Song for Singapore’. This segment will also include a special National Day greeting by President Halimah Yacob.

Meanwhile, Kollywood music producer Shabir will deliver his catchy tune, ‘Singai Naadu Redux’, and exuberant dance moves amidst the Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom exhibition glass sculptures in the Gardens. Joining these next-generation stars will be the legendary pop icon Rahimah Rahim, who will be belting out signature hits like ‘Pesanan Buat Gadis’ and ‘Gadis Bunga’ amongst the stunning blooms within Flower Dome. Please refer to Annex B for a list of key programme performers.

Interspersed among the performances will be inspiring stories of individuals and organisations who are making a positive impact in the community and contributing to a green and sustainable living environment. Set in the lush surroundings of the Gardens, the stories will feature the team from social enterprise, The Social Kitchen, seniors from social service agency, Brahm Centre, horticulturists and staff from Gardens by the Bay, and even a special cameo appearance by a family of otters at Marina Bay.  

That’s not all. To amplify audience engagement, viewers can also look forward to immersing themselves in the Gardens by the Bay and Mediacorp National Day Concert Virtual Experience from their homes. Viewers can explore the whimsical, futuristic digital twin of Gardens by the Bay, where they can learn more about the National Day Concert performers and enjoy a special performance of ‘再度起航’ (‘Take Flight’) by local artiste Jake (吴家慷). The Gardens by the Bay and Mediacorp National Day Concert Virtual Experience will be available via meWATCH on Windows desktop devices from 9 August.

For more information, please visit mewatch.sg/ndc2021, or refer to the Annexes:

• Annex A: Viewing details
• Annex B: Performers at Gardens by the Bay & Mediacorp National Day Concert 2021 (in alphabetical order).

In a unique collaboration between art and nature, 13 seniors visited Gardens by the Bay for a watercolour painting session and tour organised by Fei Yue Community Services. The seniors painted the glass sculptures in Flower Dome that are part of the Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom exhibition, then toured the exhibition. Such an activity provides a respite for seniors, and helps them maintain an active and healthy mind during a stressful time like the pandemic.

The visit was made possible by Gardens by the Bay’s Gift of Gardens community outreach initiative, which provides free access to Flower Dome, Cloud Forest and Floral Fantasy for beneficiaries of social service agencies, and Singapore residents who may not have the resources to visit or are individuals with disabilities.

President Halimah Yacob, the patron of Gift of Gardens, interacted with the seniors during the painting session, and even contributed a brushstroke or two to one of the paintings. Later, she joined them on a tour of the glass sculptures in Flower Dome as well as the outdoor gardens.

Gardens by the Bay Senior Director of Programming and Events Chua Yen Ling said, “As the community works together to weather the pandemic, it feels particularly meaningful for Gardens by the Bay to be able to do its small part by hosting these seniors through our Gift of Gardens community outreach programme. We hope that the green spaces at Gardens by the Bay serve as a source of respite and resilience for people during these challenging times.”

The Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom exhibition is ongoing at Gardens by the Bay until August 1.

An outstanding specimen of Grammatophyllum multiflorum var. tigrinum at Gardens by the Bay will become the first of its species to be awarded the First Class Certificate, the highest accolade among the Orchid Society of South East Asia’s prized certificates.

The recognition, which will be formally registered next month, is all the more significant as the First Class Certificate has only been presented to seven orchids in 93 years. For an orchid species to be awarded the mark of distinction is not only a rare honour, but also a testament to the well-honed skills of the grower.

The winning specimen Grammatophyllum multiflorum var. tigrinum 'Gardens by the Bay' is being recognised for its exceptional quality due to its symmetrical shape with flowers of intense colouration and contrast. Its five long arching inflorescences – the longest measuring almost 2 metres – are elegant with well-arranged flowers. Three inflorescences have bloomed just in time for Mother’s Day, while the remaining two are expected to bloom in the next two to three weeks. By the time the plant reaches full bloom, it will carry over 500 flowers. It is now on display in Flower Dome for visitors to enjoy.

A relative of the Tiger Orchid, Grammatophyllum multiflorum var. tigrinum is an orchid species endemic to the Philippines. In its natural habitat, the epiphyte grows on tree trunks or branches in forests at elevations up to 300 metres. “Multiflorum” means multi-flowered in Latin.

Singapore has officially launched a major garden exhibition by Dale Chihuly, one of the world’s most-renowned glass artists from Seattle. A first of its kind in Asia, the Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom exhibition takes place amidst the verdant tropical setting of Singapore’s iconic Gardens by the Bay. The exhibition was officiated by Guest-of-Honour Mr Alvin Tan, Minister of State for Trade & Industry and Culture, Community & Youth, at an opening ceremony this evening.

The exhibition offers a unique experience that takes visitors across the expanse of Gardens by the Bay’s various landscapes, including the vast greenery of its Outdoor Gardens and the cooled environment of its Conservatories. Here, visitors will be able to experience landmark installations such as Moon - which has not been exhibited since its debut in Jerusalem in 2000, and Setting Sun - an artwork designed specially for Singapore. The two installations will be presented in view of one another for the first time, allowing visitors to appreciate the spectacular artworks in one setting and against the Singapore city skyline. Together with other installations such as the nearly 10-metre tall Cloud Forest Persians set within the Cloud Forest conservatory and the delicate Ethereal White Persians at Serene Garden, Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom promises an inspiring encounter for all visitors. More information on the artworks can be found in the Fact Sheet.

Organised by Hustle & Bustle, supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, venue partner Gardens by the Bay, automotive sponsor Porsche, and presented by title sponsors Bank of Singapore and OCBC Premier Private Client, Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom is the first exhibition of its scale to be hosted at Gardens by the Bay. Expectedly, transporting and setting up more than 100 of these prized artworks, including some that weigh as much as 3,600 kg, required the collective support of many - such as engineering partner CPG Consultants Pte Ltd.

Mr Chuck Kho, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of CPG Consultants Pte Ltd, shared, “The magnificent artwork installations of Dale Chihuly have always awed the world with their beauty and wonder. As the appointed engineering partner, we incorporated innovative lightweight solutions and enabled the existing structures in Gardens by the Bay to display these breathtaking iconic masterpieces. Precise and careful engineering was required to ensure that existing structures could support these large, fragile glass sculptures.”

Chargé d’Affaires Rafik Mansour, U.S. Embassy Singapore shares from the perspective of an American in Singapore, and the embassy’s support towards The Creator’s Cove, “Dale Chihuly’s work is recognised across the world for its innovation and creativity.  It is exciting to see these American masterpieces on display in such an iconic Singaporean venue as an embodiment of our two countries’ vibrant relationship.  The U.S. Embassy is proud to support The Creator’s Cove as an opportunity for Singaporeans to experience Chihuly’s work in an interactive, hands-on way.”

An exciting line-up of programmes and other offerings

Beyond the Gardens, the public can catch a glimpse of Dale Chihuly’s works which were specially shipped over to Singapore, at the outdoor spaces of The Fullerton Bay Hotel. The Paintbrush Tower is prominently displayed on the lawn outside The Fullerton Bay Hotel, against the Marina Bay skyline. It made its debut at Chihuly’s 2014 exhibition at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Coral Gables, Florida. More recently, the work was presented in Chihuly’s 2018 exhibition at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. The name was inspired by the Indian Paintbrush flower after the form was first blown and Chihuly noticed a resemblance. Come May, one can also look forward to an artistic afternoon tea inspired by Dale Chihuly’s masterpieces at The Fullerton Bay Hotel.

Visitors can also expect fun and diverse experiences that incorporate an eclectic mix of art and nature. There will be programmes conducted in collaboration with community partners such as Synergraphic Design, whose local glass artists will be conducting glass fusing workshops; and Crafune, who will be holding leather crafting workshops. Supported by the U.S. Embassy Singapore, these workshops present interactive elements of the exhibition. For more information on the programmes, please visit https://chihulyinbloom.com/programmes.

Selected Grab users who book a ride to the exhibition will stand to enjoy special rewards and promotions for exclusive exhibition merchandise. Grab will also be giving away Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom exhibition tickets to selected driver-partners in June, as a gesture of appreciation for their hard work. Driver-partners will receive more information on this soon.

The exhibition extends to a vibrant Porsche Taycan art car against the futuristic backdrop of the SG50 Lattice at the Gardens. Its design features Chihuly’s Persians series, a celebration of form, scale and colour that was first exhibited in 1986. Over the course of five decades, Dale Chihuly has explored new and old techniques of glass blowing, constantly pushing the boundaries of contemporary art. Drawing inspiration from the world around him, Chihuly creates statements using colour and form to capture the imagination, surpassing conventional ideas of function and beauty. Parallels can be drawn with Porsche, the car manufacturer that emphasises on quality and invests heavily in innovative technology. Porsche places the highest demands on its designs and their every detail and the Taycan art car, with its vibrant Persians livery designed by Chihuly, is emblematic of this common ambition between Porsche and Chihuly the artist, to innovate beyond convention.

“Featuring elements from Dale Chihuly’s award-winning exhibition Persians, the Taycan art car is a striking composition of emotion, history, and innovation. The Taycan delivers the unparalleled design and performance that typifies every Porsche for the electric age. The art car brings this passage to life beautifully by juxtaposing an iconic profile against captivatingly dynamic characteristics,” said Arthur Willmann, Chief Executive Officer of Porsche Asia Pacific.

The Porsche Taycan art car celebrates the amalgamation of art, nature and innovation and will be exhibited exclusively at the SG50 Lattice at the Bay South Garden (Gardens by the Bay) until 30 May 2021, in conjunction with the exhibition.

In addition, visitors will be able to purchase official exhibition merchandise designed by Chihuly Studio, including books, colouring pencil sets, decorative paper books, pop-up cards, sculpture kits, umbrellas, tote bags, and more, each available at the Exhibition Shop near Dragonfly Lake. In addition, designs by local artists have been selected from winning entries in response to an open call in January. The open call was held as a nod to Singapore’s creative community, and winning entries were awarded with cash prizes and a curated tour of the exhibition. Please refer to Annex A for more information on this.

Tickets are available via the following options:

• Tickets to the Conservatories (Cloud Forest and Flower Dome) start from $20.
• The Complete Experience ticket tier that will allow access to all areas of the exhibition including the Conservatories, and Outdoor Gardens & Gallery, start from $27.
• SingapoRediscovers Vouchers issued by Singapore Tourism Board can be used for the purchase of tickets (for Conservatories and The Complete Experience) https://ticket.gardensbythebay.com.sg.

For more information and ticket purchase, please visit www.chihulyinbloom.com.

For more details, please refer to the following:

• Fact Sheet
• Exhibition Guide
• Annex A

From 23 April 2021, the public will be treated to a visual spectacle of vibrant, large-scale glass installations by world-renowned American artist Dale Chihuly, when the sculptures in Gardens by the Bay’s Cloud Forest and Flower Dome open first to welcome visitors. These eight installations are part of the Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom exhibition that will officially open to the public from 1 May 2021.

Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom marks the artist’s inaugural major garden exhibition in Asia, and is the first exhibition of its scale to be hosted at Gardens by the Bay. Featuring 25 of the artist’s large-scale installations, as well as over 80 pedestal sculptures and two-dimensional works such as Glass-on-Glass paintings, the works are curated and set within the verdant tropical setting of Singapore’s iconic horticultural attraction. The exhibition is organised by Hustle & Bustle, supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, venue partner Gardens by the Bay, automotive sponsor Porsche and presented by title sponsors Bank of Singapore and OCBC Premier Private Client.

Gardens by the Bay’s Director of Horticultural Operations Gary Chua said, “There’s a strong tradition of Chihuly sculptures being exhibited in famous gardens around the world, so our horticulturists were thrilled to have the opportunity to exercise their creativity to put together beautiful landscapes and floral displays that would complement these stunning sculptures. Visitors will be glad to know that the floral display in Flower Dome will change throughout the duration of the exhibition, so there will be new flowers to look forward to and people can come again and again."

A list of installations within the cooled conservatories can be found in Annex A.

Other installations that will open to the public from 1 May 2021, situated in the Outdoor Gardens and Gallery at Bayfront Pavilion, include the striking Setting Sun, Moon, and Ethereal White Persians – some of which weigh as much as 3,600 kg.

Tickets are available via the following options:

• Tickets to the cooled conservatories (Cloud Forest and Flower Dome) from $20, are currently available.
• The Complete Experience ticket tier that will allow access to all areas of the exhibition including the cooled conservatories, Outdoor Gardens and Gallery from $27, will be available for purchase from 21 April.
• SingapoRediscovers Vouchers issued by Singapore Tourism Board can be used for the purchase of tickets (for cooled conservatories and The Complete Experience) from https://ticket.gardensbythebay.com.sg beginning 21 April.

For more information and ticket purchase, please visit http://www.chihulyinbloom.com.

Visitor safety remains a priority for Gardens by the Bay. Safe management measures for ticketed attractions include:

• Timed-entry tickets
• Capacity limits
• Temperature screening
• Safe distancing of 1m and floor markers to guide people in complying
• Automatic entry and exit doors
• Self-disinfecting coating on commonly touched surfaces like lift buttons and escalator railings
• Sanitisation of public amenities like toilets every hour
• Hand sanitisers available at all entrances, exits and high contact areas
• Equipping the air-chilling system in Cloud Forest and Flower Dome with high performance germicidal Ultra Violet (C) emitters similar to those used in healthcare institutions to improve air quality

All visitors must comply with prevailing Covid-19 guidelines, including the wearing of masks even during photo-taking, not gathering in groups of more than eight people, and observing a safe distance of 1m from other visitors.

American artist Dale Chihuly, a trailblazer in his work with blown glass, will bring his large-scale installations and sculptures to Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay from 1 May – 1 August, 2021.  Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom marks the artist’s first major garden exhibition in Asia, presenting visitors with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience an extensive collection of the celebrated artist’s works. The exhibition is organised by Hustle & Bustle, supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, venue partner Gardens by the Bay and presented by title sponsors Bank of Singapore and OCBC Premier Private Client.

“I’m thrilled to show my work in such a dynamic location in Singapore,” said Chihuly. “The natural world is an endless source for creativity, and it has been so inspiring to bring my work to life in this urban garden oasis.”

Dale Chihuly is an award-winning, multi-media artist known for his installations in museums, gardens, and public spaces around the world. For more than 50 years, he has pushed the boundaries of glass, reinventing natural and man-made environments with his experiments in light, space, and form.

Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom is the latest manifestation of the artist’s practice as he reimagines the landscapes of Singapore’s iconic Gardens by the Bay with 25 of his magnificent large-scale installations, as well as more than 80 pedestal sculptures and two-dimensional works. The works, which have been shipped directly from Seattle and installed on site, marks the first exhibition of its scale to be hosted at Gardens by the Bay, and makes it the first garden in Asia to provide the verdant tropical setting for people in Singapore to experience the stunning works of Chihuly for themselves.    

Among the exhibition highlights are Chihuly’s majestic Setting Sun, and Moon, a large spherical installation which was last presented in the artist’s landmark exhibition, Chihuly in the Light of Jerusalem 2000. Visitors will see Ethereal White Persians at the Serene Garden, and Cloud Forest Persians, a study in scale and translucency which debuted in 2019 at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, in London. These large-scale works, which measure up to 10 metres in height and weigh as much as 3600 kg, were curated and designed to complement the spaces within Gardens by the Bay’s Flower Dome, Cloud Forest and outdoor gardens. The full list of artworks will be announced at a later date.

While this is the artist’s first formal garden exhibition in Asia, Chihuly has an existing legacy in Singapore with large-scale permanent installations at Resorts World Sentosa and at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

“Chihuly is a symbol of resilience, as portrayed in his mastery of the beautiful and delicate art of glassblowing. We are captivated by his life story, and view this momentous exhibition as an opportunity to share his inspirational story with the rest of Singapore, despite the challenges of putting together a show of this scale in the midst of a pandemic. When the world has come to a standstill during this pandemic period, Chihuly’s works bring our focus back to nature. By presenting the works of this celebrated contemporary glass artist in Singapore, we hope to bring joy to visitors, and to make art accessible to the general public, especially for our locals and Singapore residents,” said Michael Lee, CEO of Hustle & Bustle, on the partnership with Chihuly Studio.

Felix Loh, CEO, Gardens by the Bay added: “Mr Dale Chihuly’s colourful glass sculptures first gained popularity in America in the 70s and have since remained highly sought after by destinations all over. We are honoured to be the first Asian national garden to play host to these stunning masterpieces, following the footsteps of other successful exhibitions in Kew Gardens, London and the New York Botanical Garden. With overseas travel still some time away, we hope locals will come experience these magical creations by one of the world’s most celebrated glass artist in the modern era.”

Mr Ching Wei Hong, Deputy President, Head of Global Wealth Management and Consumer Banking, OCBC Bank said, “With borders closed and travel restricted due to the Covid-19 outbreak, many of us have not been able to access world-class art and performances overseas. OCBC and Bank of Singapore are therefore very happy to be able to support the debut exhibition of world-renowned glass sculptor, Dale Chihuly, in Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay. Members of the public can view the exhibition spanning the entire Garden. For our clients from Bank of Singapore and OCBC Premier Private Client, we have specially curated a set of activities. While we have been able to meet the wealth management needs of our clients effectively over the past year or so, whether virtually or in small groups, this exhibition gives us the opportunity to engage our clients in person, beyond banking. We hope the beautiful and gravity-defying glass expressions of human creativity and imagination of Dale Chihuly’s masterpieces will bring joy to everyone during this challenging time.”

“We are very pleased that Singapore is hosting Dale Chihuly’s debut at Gardens by the Bay. This world-class exhibition is a strong testament to Singapore’s standing as an ideal location to showcase the work of leading global artists. We hope Singapore residents will enjoy this spectacular, ‘first-in-Asia’ visual art experience, and in time to come, we hope our international visitors can experience it too,” said Keith Tan, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board.

Tickets are available via the following options:

• Early bird tickets to the Outdoor Gardens & Gallery, from $12. Early bird ticketing, which offers 25 per cent off regular prices, is available 1 April through 20 April.
• Tickets to the Conservatories (Cloud Forest and Flower Dome), from $20, available from 21 April.
• Shared experience package that will allow access to all areas of the exhibition including the Conservatories, Outdoor Gardens & Gallery, from $27. Package will be available for purchase from 21 April.
• SingapoRediscovers Vouchers issued by Singapore Tourism Board can be used for the purchase of tickets to the exhibition via ticket.gardensbythebay.com.sg

For more information and ticket purchase, please visit www.chihulyinbloom.com.

To ensure the safety of all visitors, the exhibition will be adhering strictly with recommended health guidelines, safety best practices, distancing measures and government regulations. Visitors are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance to secure slots.

For more details, please refer to the Annexes:

• Annex A: Biography of Dale Chihuly
• Annex B: List of highlight artworks

Visitors to Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay can now enjoy an extended sakura season as the ongoing Sakura Featuring Hello Kitty floral display, which opened on March 1, will run till April 11.

This is the first time the annual cherry blossom display at Gardens by the Bay will be held over an extended period, as previous editions typically ran for three weeks due to the ephemeral nature of the blooms. This fortunate stroke of serendipity came about because of a delay in a shipment of cherry blossom trees from Europe due to disruptions in the shipping industry. As a result, the Sakura display opened in March with specialty sakura from Japan that arrived as scheduled. Following the arrival of trees from Europe two weeks later, Gardens by the Bay is incorporating them into the floral display to extend the cherry blossom show by another three weeks.

Visitors can check Gardens by the Bay’s Facebook and Telegram channel for updates on the state of blooming.

Sakura Featuring Hello Kitty floral display
Date: From Monday, 1 March to Sunday, 11 April
Time: 9.00am – 9.00pm
Details: Admission charge to Flower Dome applies. Visitors are required to pre-book their timed-entry tickets online from the Gardens by the Bay website or mobile app.

Visit www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/sakura for details.

With the March school holidays around the corner and overseas travel on hold due to the pandemic, Gardens by the Bay is bringing a bit of Japan to Singapore. 

In spite of disruptions in the shipping industry affecting the supply of cherry blossom trees from Europe, Gardens by the Bay will be bringing back the popular Sakura display with specialty sakura trees from Japan – and a little help from Hello Kitty.

Gardens by the Bay is pleased to present the Sakura Featuring Hello Kitty floral display from 1 March 2021.

Hello Kitty, the endearing Japanese international icon, will make her debut at Gardens by the Bay in this year’s Sakura Featuring Hello Kitty floral display. She will appear in various picturesque settings including a hanami (flower viewing) picnic amidst spring blossoms, a nodate (an outdoor tea ceremony), and a Japanese-style landscaped garden. Quintessential Japanese elements like torii gates and red-crowned cranes will also be featured in the floral display. 

Safety continues to be a priority and thus in planning the Sakura floral display, Gardens by the Bay took into consideration safe distancing measures to spread out scenic spots and blossoms, allowing visitors space to maintain a distance from one another.  

Cultural programmes such as traditional folk music and dance, taiko drum performances, Japanese tea demonstrations and ikebana workshops, organised in partnership with the Embassy of Japan in Singapore’s Japan Creative Centre, will be scaled down in accordance with prevailing safety guidelines, which cap the number of attendees who will need to pre-register for the programmes.

Gardens by the Bay CEO Felix Loh said, “Many of us can’t wait to travel again and cherry blossoms in Japan would rank highly as one of the must-go destinations for everyone. Hence, despite logistics issues, the Gardens team insisted on reaching out to our overseas partners to bring this much-loved display to Singaporeans. While cherry tree supplies may be limited this year, we hope these rare beauties will continue to bring our families and loved ones together in a time of Covid-19. We are also thankful to the Embassy of Japan in Singapore for their continued support and partnership.”

Ms Marziah Omar, Senior Assistant Director of Conservatory Operations overseeing the display in Flower Dome added, “Our annual Sakura floral display has brought much joy and delight to Singaporeans over the past five years. Despite the supply challenges this year, we are doing our best to make sure that we continue to present this popular floral display to our visitors. We are still hopeful that the larger cherry blossom trees from Europe will arrive later. When that happens, we will incorporate them into the display and our visitors will get the bonus opportunity to enjoy an extended sakura season this year.” 

Sakura Featuring Hello Kitty floral display was launched by Ambassador of Japan to Singapore His Excellency Jun Yamazaki and Ambassador-at-Large at Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Professor Tommy Koh. They also graced the unveiling of a sculpture by renowned Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama titled “Kei-Chan”, which was donated to Gardens by the Bay by private individual Ms Lee Tuan.

Ambassador of Japan to Singapore His Excellency Jun Yamazaki said, “I am once again delighted to welcome the Sakura floral display at Gardens by the Bay, which is in its sixth year. It is an event that brings Japan closer to Singapore. I am personally excited to see the beautiful sakura blossoms. Please also enjoy the tastes and sounds of Japan while taking in the sense of spring on display right here in Singapore.”

Sakura Featuring Hello Kitty floral display
Date: From Monday, 1 March
Time: 9.00am – 9.00pm
Details: Admission charge to Flower Dome applies.

Visit www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/sakura for details. Visitors can check Gardens by the Bay’s Facebook and Telegram channel for updates on the state of blooming.

The life-sized lanterns, giant God of Fortune installation and exhibition which have made River Hongbao (RHB) one of Singapore’s most beloved and exciting Chinese New Year celebration events will return this year at a new venue at Gardens by the Bay. It will run for seven days from 10 February to 16 February 2021.

RHB, which has been held annually since 1987, is organised by the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Singapore Press Holdings’ Chinese Media Group, Singapore Tourism Board and People’s Association.

Mr Tan Aik Hock, Chairman of the River Hongbao 2021 Organising Committee, said: “This year’s RHB will be a different experience from previous years. In deciding whether to proceed with RHB, the first question we asked ourselves was whether we can ensure the safety and wellbeing of all our visitors. It was also important that we did our level best to try and adjust to the new normal, while continuing the RHB tradition.

After extensive deliberation, planning and consultation, and together with our venue partner Gardens by the Bay, we have adapted the event and we are confident that we have put in place robust safety protocols that will allow our visitors to imbibe in some festive flavour as we launch into new beginnings in the Chinese year of the Ox."

Ensuring Safety and Wellbeing

This year, safe management and crowd control measures will take priority at the RHB event. Baseline safety protocols include SafeEntry check-ins, thermal screening, and the provision of hand sanitisers. High-touch points will be cleaned several times a day.

In addition, in order to prevent over-crowding, visitors are required to pre-register by booking slots online at www.riverhongbao.sg to avoid disappointment. Daytime slots are 90 minutes in duration, while night-time slots are 120 minutes in duration. Visitorship is capped at 2,000 visitors per time slot.

More than 100 volunteers, safe distancing ambassadors and uniformed auxiliary police officers will be deployed at any one time to prevent crowding, and also to ensure all visitors follow proper safe management measures.
 

New Venue: Gardens by the Bay

Even though there will be restrictions placed due to COVID-19, visitors can still expect to see some perennial RHB favourites at the new Gardens by the Bay event site.

Mr Felix Loh, CEO of Gardens by the Bay said: “We are honoured to be entrusted by the River Hongbao 2021 Organising Committee as their venue partner. At the same time, we are conscious of the need to work doubly hard to ensure that the popular event is carried out in a safe way and seek visitors' understanding of the need for enhanced safety measures. While this year's edition has been scaled back in line with the muted celebrations, we hope that the occasion will still bring some cheer and joy to our community as we welcome a new spring of hope together."
 

A “Different” RHB Experience

Due to concerns over COVID-19, there will be restrictions on crowd numbers and several of RHB’s key features such as the fireworks, the amusement park and live stage performances have been cancelled.

What RHB visitors can still enjoy and take photographs of this year on-site are 24 giant lanterns featuring icons like a peacock, a pair of butterflies, the 12 animal zodiacs, and the crowd-pleasing God of Fortune. These lanterns will be scattered throughout GB’s outdoor gardens. 

Cultural elements can also be found at RHB whereby visitors can boost their knowledge of Chinese culture at the River Hongbao exhibition, which will feature the Lion Dance. The exhibition includes a curated selection of lion dance artefacts from private collectors and organisations, with some dating back to as far as 1950s. It also shows the significance of the lion dance in different cultures and countries, as well as the history of the lion dance and its development in Singapore. 

In place of student-led guided tours which have been cancelled due to COVID-19, pre-recorded videos of the students introducing the exhibition contents will be available for viewing at the exhibition venue and online at the RHB website. 

Main stage live performances have also been cancelled this year. Instead, nightly screenings of performances will be held at the Main Stage with local talents featured on different themed nights including Getai Night and Xinyao Night. 

RHB is continuing its collaboration with Mediacorp, with support from the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre this year, to produce a specially curated show which will be broadcast on Channel 8 on 26 February 2021. RHB will also be collaborating for the first time with Singapore Press Holdings’ Chinese Media Group for one night of performance – Joys of Spring - on 16 February 2021.

As visitor numbers are limited, many elements of RHB will be posted online at the RHB website (www.riverhongbao.sg) for public to enjoy from home. This includes the Lion Dance exhibition, lantern displays and videos of performances.

There will be plenty of opportunities for visitors to engage with River Hongbao virtually, such as through games and other interactive elements. RHB will be launching a TikTok contest for the first time with attractive prizes to be won.  This year’s collaboration with POSB for their #HuntYourZodiac game will also feature a new gameplay with an Islandwide Hunt.

With safety protocols and a new venue, RHB 2021 will certainly be different from previous years. As one of the most familiar and well-loved events in the Singapore calendar, through its adaptation, RHB hopes that everyone can still usher in the Chinese New Year in a joyful manner and enjoy festivities in a responsible way.

For more information, please visit www.riverhongbao.sg and https://www.facebook.com/riverhongbaosg/, or refer to the Annexes:

• Annex 1: Visitor Must-Knows: Online Pre-registration
• Annex 2: Thematic Nights: Summary of Programmes

Gardens by the Bay’s Gift of Gardens community outreach programme benefitted from its largest donation since it started in 2012, receiving $250,000 from Bloomberg and private individual Mrs Lucy Yeo. President Halimah Yacob, who is also the Patron of Gift of Gardens, received the cheque on behalf of Gardens by the Bay today. Together with beneficiaries from Concern & Care Society, TOUCH Community Services, and HOME (Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics), President Halimah also toured the Dahlia Dreams floral display in Flower Dome.

Gift of Gardens provides complimentary access to Gardens by the Bay’s ticketed attractions to local residents who may otherwise not have the opportunity to visit, such as those who lack the resources or individuals with disabilities.

The amount donated today will be further matched dollar-for-dollar by Tote Board under its Enhanced Fund-Raising Programme. In addition, with the growing popularity of online donations, Gardens by the Bay has set up a public fundraising platform on www.giving.sg to provide a more streamlined platform for the public to contribute to Gift of Gardens.

Since Gift of Gardens started in 2012, donations from individual donors and corporate sponsors have enabled more than 100,000 beneficiaries from over 200 charities to enjoy popular ticketed attractions such as Flower Dome, Cloud Forest and Floral Fantasy.

CEO of Gardens by the Bay Felix Loh said, “As a People’s Garden, we are heartened that despite being in the middle of such a challenging climate as the pandemic, we have received strong support from Bloomberg and Mrs Lucy Yeo in our efforts make Gardens by the Bay a place for all to enjoy. Gift of Gardens provides the less fortunate opportunities to enjoy the beauty of nature at Gardens by the Bay, and we hope to continue to receive support for this worthy initiative from the community at large, especially with a more streamlined platform for donating via giving.sg.”

This new year will see the return of Gardens by the Bay’s signature thematic floral displays in Flower Dome, beginning with Dahlia Dreams, which opens today. The public can also look forward to perennial favourites such as Sakura Matsuri and Tulipmania returning later this year to delight local Singaporeans who are still unable to travel extensively.

This year's display of 2,000 dahlias are all entirely grown in-house by the Gardens’ own horticulturists for the very first time given the prevailing logistics disruptions, and are showcased alongside a host of Chinese New Year floral classics like azaleas, chrysanthemums and cymbidiums.

With safety in mind, a slew of safe distancing measures has also been incorporated into the design of Dahlia Dreams. Instead of a singular photo spot, scenic spots for the display have been spaced out to allow visitors to maintain a safe distance from each other. Key photo spots have been designed to be multi-faceted with minimum visual obstruction, allowing visitors many different angles to take photos.

As safety remains a priority at Gardens by the Bay, visitors are required to pre-book their timed-entry tickets online from the Gardens by the Bay website or mobile app.

Other safety measures include:

• Capacity limits
• Temperature screening
• Safe distancing of 1m and floor markers to guide people in complying
• Automatic entry and exit doors
• Self-disinfecting coating on commonly touched surfaces like lift buttons and escalator railings
• Sanitisation of public amenities like toilets every hour
• Hand sanitisers available at all entrances, exits and high contact areas
• Equipping the air-chilling system in Cloud Forest and Flower Dome with high performance germicidal Ultra Violet (C) emitters similar to those used in healthcare institutions to improve air quality

Visitors also have to comply with prevailing Covid-19 guidelines including the wearing of masks even during photo-taking, not gathering in groups of more than eight, and observing a safe distance of 1m.

Dahlia Dreams Date: Friday, 15 January – Sunday, 21 February
Time: 9am – 9pm
Details: Admission charge to Flower Dome applies.

Visit www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/dahlia for details.

With Singapore having moved into Phase 3, Gardens by the Bay will be bringing back the full version of its Garden Rhapsody light and sound show from January 8.

The popular light and sound show at Supertree Grove sees the lights of 12 Supertrees “dance” to a musical soundtrack. The 15-minute show will return to its original 7.45pm and 8.45pm timing every evening, and is free.

The musical soundtrack and choreography of lights changes often, and there are 10 shows planned for 2021. For the month of January, visitors will get to experience Garden Waltz, an uplifting compilation of waltz music from great composers, such as Frédéric Chopin's Grande Valse Brilliante, Johann Strauss Junior's On the Beautiful Blue Danube and Emile Waldteufel's Skaters' Waltz.

Garden Rhapsody went on hiatus during last year’s circuit breaker period, and returned in a different form in September to ensure safe distancing management and crowd control. Instead of two full-scale shows every evening, soothing background music and soft lighting took place from 7pm to 10pm daily.

When the full Garden Rhapsody returns, Safe Distancing Ambassadors and security officers will be on site to enforce safe management measures such as ensuring people keeping an adequate distance from each other, not congregating in large groups and wearing their face masks at all times.

Gardens by the Bay Senior Director of Programming and Events Chua Yen Ling said, “Singapore has come through a difficult 2020, and we hope this new year will be a better one for everyone. For the first full version of Gardens Rhapsody at Gardens by the Bay, we chose a particularly rousing soundtrack which we hope will uplift the spirit. Garden Rhapsody is free for all, and with safety measures in place, we hope our visitors will not only enjoy the show, but also receive a boost to morale as they immerse themselves in the magical atmosphere of our magnificent Supertrees.”

For the list of Garden Rhapsody shows lined up for 2021, visit www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/whatson.

Please refer to the Annex for events happening in January at Gardens by the Bay.