Day 1 | Monday 8 March
Arrive Singapore
Singapore has long occupied a pivotal position within the trading networks of Asia. Founded as a British settlement in 1819, it developed into a cosmopolitan port city shaped by the movement of goods and ideas across the region. These exchanges fostered a distinctive cultural landscape expressed through architecture, design, fashion, food and the visual arts – themes that will underpin our exploration of the city. Our hotel, The Fullerton, stands at the mouth of the Singapore River, where much of this early commercial life unfolded. Following arrivals throughout the day, we gather this evening in The Courtyard, set beneath the hotel’s soaring atrium, for welcome drinks and introductions. Dinner follows in the hotel’s Town Restaurant, whose extensive buffet reflects the multicultural influences that have shaped Singapore’s culinary traditions. Overnight Singapore (D)

Day 2 | Tuesday 9 March
Colonial Singapore & Studio Visit | Performance
Completed in 1928, The Fullerton became one of the principal centres of government and commerce in colonial Singapore, serving as the General Post Office and housing the prestigious Singapore Club. A guided tour this morning explores the building’s past before we continue to Raffles Hotel, established in 1887 by the Sarkies brothers. As Singapore prospered as a trading port, Raffles became the city’s foremost social address, welcoming merchants, diplomats, writers and travellers from across the globe, and
a heritage tour here traces its evolution from colonial institution to national landmark. Lunch follows within the hotel, bringing together Chinese, Malay, Indian and European influences. The afternoon then turns to Singapore’s contemporary art scene with a private visit to the shared working studio of Milenko and Delia Prvacki in the city’s north. Born in the former Yugoslavia and based in Singapore since the early 1990s, Milenko has been an influential figure in the city’s contemporary art scene as both a painter and educator. Delia, a leading ceramic artist, draws upon archaeology, history and traditional craft practices in works that explore memory, place and cultural exchange. During our visit, they discuss their work, careers and contributions to Singapore’s evolving visual arts landscape. On return to the hotel, there is time to relax before we conclude the day with an evening performance at the striking Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay complex (schedule permitting). Overnight Singapore (B, L)

Day 3 | Wednesday 10 March
Peranakan Singapore & Food Tour
The Peranakan community has left an enduring mark on Singapore’s cultural landscape. From intricately embroidered textiles and beaded footwear to ceramics, jewellery and domestic interiors, the material culture of the Peranakans reflects centuries of exchange between Chinese, Malay and other Southeast Asian traditions. These themes provide the focus of our morning visit to the Peranakan Museum, where we examine the history of Peranakan communities across the Straits Settlements. We then enjoy one of the tour’s signature experiences as Peter Lee – internationally recognised Peranakan scholar, author and collector – welcomes us into his private home. Known for his extensive research into Peranakan culture and dress, Lee shares highlights from his remarkable family collection assembled over generations, before hosting a traditional Peranakan lunch for the group. Returning to the hotel, there is time to relax before we turn our attention this evening to one of Singapore’s defining cultural traditions: its UNESCO-listed hawker food culture. Accompanied by a local host, we explore Chinatown and the bustling Maxwell Food Centre, where generations of hawkers have preserved recipes reflecting the city’s Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian heritage. Sampling a variety of dishes along the way, we gain insight into a food culture that remains central to everyday life in the city. Overnight Singapore (B, L, D)

Day 4 | Thursday 11 March
Public & Private Collections
Singapore’s emergence as a major cultural centre has been accompanied by the growth of significant public institutions and private collections. Together they reveal how artists, collectors and patrons have shaped conversations around identity, history and artistic practice across Southeast Asia. This morning begins with a visit to the National Gallery Singapore, housed within the former Supreme Court and City Hall. A guided highlights tour introduces some of the most significant works in the collection, exploring the evolution of artistic practice across Southeast Asia from the 19th century onwards. A farewell lunch is then enjoyed at Violet Oon within the precinct, named for one of Singapore’s best-known food writers and restaurateurs, before we are welcomed into the private collection of Johan MF and partner. Bringing together Singaporean and European paintings alongside Chinese export porcelain from the 17th and 18th centuries and displayed throughout their home, the collection reflects decades of thoughtful acquisition and connoisseurship, with Johan and his partner sharing the stories and interests that lie behind its development. The evening is at leisure on return to our hotel. Overnight Singapore (B, L)

Day 5 | Friday 12 March
Fashioning Modern Singapore
Singapore’s emergence as an independent nation in 1965 was accompanied by profound social and cultural change. Fashion, advertising and popular media played an important role in projecting a modern identity, reflecting the aspirations of a rapidly developing city-state and its place within Asia. Our final morning begins at the National Museum of Singapore, where the focus is on the many facets of daily life. Drawing on our Tour Leader’s research into dress and fashion history, the visit explores how clothing, media and visual culture reflected the ambitions of a young nation and contributed to the creation of a distinctly modern Singaporean identity. We then continue to Little India, a neighbourhood whose origins lie in the Indian communities that helped build and sustain colonial Singapore. A guided walk from Tekka Centre to the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple introduces its bustling markets, colourful streets and places of worship, providing a fitting conclusion to our exploration of the people, cultures and traditions that have shaped modern Singapore. In the mid-afternoon, we return to The Fullerton one final time to collect our luggage and transfer to Changi Airport for onward flights. (B)