Join us for an epic gaming weekend at the museum!
In conjunction with Let’s Play! The Art and Design of Asian Games, get competitive at social game nights, meet game designers, and learn from grandmasters. Enjoy live performances, chess and mahjong zones, and interactive activities — ready, set, play!

Enjoy discounted entry to Let’s Play! The Art and Design of Asian Games during programme hours ($10 for Singaporeans/PRs | $20 for Foreign Residents/Tourists).

Programme Highlights

Game Nights at the Foyer
11 & 12 Oct | 4–10pm

Knights at the Museum with Aliwal Chess Club
11 & 12 Oct | 4–9pm

Grandmaster Matches: Weiqi, Xiangqi & Chess
11 & 12 Oct | Various timings

Mahjong Day with Mahjong Lah
12 Oct | 4–9pm

Look out for drop-in activities, performances, guided tours, and more — full details coming soon!

10–12 October 2025

Daily - Friday, 6–10pm / Sat & Sun, 4–10pm

Asian Civilisations Museum

Free and ticketed activities available

10–12 October 2025

Daily - Friday, 6–10pm / Sat & Sun, 4–10pm

Asian Civilisations Museum

Free and ticketed activities available

Enjoy discounted entry to Let’s Play! The Art and Design of Asian Games during programme hours ($10 for Singaporeans/PRs | $20 for Foreign Residents/Tourists).

Programme Highlights

Game Nights at the Foyer
11 & 12 Oct | 4–10pm

Knights at the Museum with Aliwal Chess Club
11 & 12 Oct | 4–9pm

Grandmaster Matches: Weiqi, Xiangqi & Chess
11 & 12 Oct | Various timings

Mahjong Day with Mahjong Lah
12 Oct | 4–9pm

Look out for drop-in activities, performances, guided tours, and more — full details coming soon!

Crossing Cultures at ACM

Taking inspiration from objects in the galleries, Crossing Cultures explores ACM's collection through performing arts, craftsmanship, food traditions, wellness practices, and other aspects of intangible cultural heritage – past and present. Dive deep into Asia’s rich heritage with these special weekend programmes. Learn, explore, and create with us at ACM.

The opinions expressed by the speakers, facilitators, and artists in these programmes are their own and do not represent the views of the Asian Civilisations Museum.

Supported By

DROP-IN ACTIVITIES

Happy Hour at ACM: Friday Night Special

Fri,10 Oct
6–8pm
ACM Lobby
Free glass of champagne* with every Let’s Play! ticket purchased between 6 to 8pm on 10 Oct. Limited to first 100 visitors.

Bring a date or your mates for an evening of art, games, and good vibes! Enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne with every all-access ticket – limited to the first 100 visitors.*

Our passionate docents will reveal hidden gems and insider stories on soapbox tours in the Let’s Play! exhibition. End your evening with free board games at Let's Play More at the Foyer (Level 2)!

*Ages 18+ only; non-alcoholic options available. One glass per admission ticket.

Happy Hour at ACM: Friday Night Special

Fri,10 Oct
6–8pm
ACM Lobby
Free glass of champagne* with every Let’s Play! ticket purchased between 6 to 8pm on 10 Oct. Limited to first 100 visitors.

Game Nights at the Foyer

Sat & Sun, 11–12 Oct, 4–10pm
Foyer, Level 2
Free

Get gaming all weekend at ACM! Enjoy friendly competition with an assortment of board games. Try new titles, revisit classics, and connect with the designers and communities shaping Singapore's thriving gaming scene!

All games are free to play. Bring your friends or grab a seat and make new ones!

Game booths hosted by:
Origame
Capital Gains
DesiBoredGamers
ToTheTable
Meeple Finder
Burnout Board Game
The Lepak Initiative
#laiplayleow
NTU FastForward
Pop-up game store by Geekster

FAQs:
· Age limit: This event is for adult audiences.
· BYO games: Feel free to bring your own games, but ACM will not be responsible for missing/damaged items.
· F&B: Food and drinks are not allowed in the Foyer. Visit Baker & Cook on Level 1 for a quick bite!
· Gaming etiquette: Please play with care and return all pieces intact. Inform our gallery assistants if any are missing.

Game Nights at the Foyer

Knights at the Museum with Aliwal Chess Club

Sat & Sun, 11–12 Oct, 4–9pm
ACM Green
Free

Step into the world of street chess as Aliwal Chess Club takes over ACM for two days of playful matchups, music, and more. Play a round of Picnic Chess by the Singapore River, then as night falls, make your move on glowing Neon Chess boards to live DJ beats.

BONUS! Complete a Photo Quest in the Let’s Play! exhibition and redeem free churros and teh. Whether you’re a chess pro or just here for the vibes, this is one checkmate you won’t want to miss.

About Aliwal Chess Club
Aliwal Chess Club is an unconventional street chess community in Singapore, known for its vibrant and inclusive atmosphere. They host pop-up sessions in culturally rich areas like Kampong Gelam and collaborates with cafes, cultural institutions, and placemaking groups. They have also led Singapore's first World Chess Day celebrations for four consecutive years, making chess accessible and engaging for all.

Knights at the Museum with Aliwal Chess Club

Mahjong Day with Mahjong Lah

Sun, 12 Oct, 4–9pm
River Room, Level 2
Free

It’s all things mahjong at the museum! Join a beginner's crash course, battle it out at social play tables, tackle fun challenges, and win amazing prizes. Bring the whole family – parents and grandparents included!

More than just a game, mahjong sharpens thinking, boosts memory, and strengthens bonds across generations. Let the games begin!

What to expect:
· Quick start to Singapore Mahjong (90 mins): 4pm, 6pm (Registration required)

· Timed challenge: Build the wall: Win prizes and a spot on the Wall of Fame!

· Match your winning hand challenge: Beginner friendly fun

· Social game tables: Grab your mahjong kakis for a play date at the museum!

· LIVE DJS: Live retro Asian vinyl music sets by DJs Itch and Hiddy!

· Plus: Merchandise, photo moments, and more!

About Mahjong Lah
Mahjong Lah makes mahjong accessible and engaging for locals, tourists, and expats seeking deeper cultural experiences. They teach Singapore-style mahjong, blending gameplay with traditions, stories, and social rituals. Since 2019, they have conducted hundreds of sessions, coached thousands of players worldwide, and built a thriving community. Their coaches simplify the game without losing its depth, helping participants enjoy its history, strategy, and heart – while having fun along the way.

Mahjong Day with Mahjong Lah

· LIVE DJS: Live retro Asian vinyl music sets by DJs Itch and Hiddy!

· Plus: Merchandise, photo moments, and more!

Huat Keychain with Arterly Obsessed

Sat & Sun, 11 & 12 Oct,
4–9pm
Lobby, Level 1
Free with Let’s Play! admission sticker

Huat’s up? Pick your favourite tile design and add sparkly decorations to make your very own mini mahjong tile keychain – take it home as a lucky keepsake!

While supplies last. Limited to one redemption per admission sticker.

About Arterly Obsessed
Arterly Obsessed is an art studio and collective founded by Keith and Guo Yixiu, accomplished artists and art educators with a multi-disciplinary approach to art-making. Inspired by their studies in New York and the UK, they bring expertise in drawing, painting, digital illustration, graphic design, and photography. The studio offers classes and workshops for all ages, inspiring participants and nurturing their artistic abilities. Arterly Obsessed also collaborates with companies to produce unique art, design, and illustration work.

Huat Keychain with Arterly Obsessed

Learn to play Shogi with the Singapore Shogi Group

Sat, 11 Oct, 4pm–9pm

Lobby, Level 1

Free

Learn the basic moves and rules of shogi or Japanese chess from Leon Zhuo Loon and representatives of The Singapore Shogi Group. Find out about the history of Shogi and its place in Japanese culture. Try your hand playing the game and have fun solving Tsumeshogi or Shogi problems.

About the Singapore Shogi Group

The Singapore Shogi Group is the Singapore Branch of the Japan Shogi Association and is based in the Japanese Association Singapore. The Shogi group is informally organized with one head and the rest are members.

Mr Leon Zhuo Loon is a 5 Dan Shogi player and is Singapore’s best player. He is a two time Singaporean ISF representative and came in third in the World Open Shogi Championship in Poland in 2025.He is also the first non-Japanese, non-Japan born Shogi Instructor officially recognized by the Japan Shogi Association.

Learn to play Shogi with the Singapore Shogi Group

Sat, 11 Oct, 4pm–9pm

Lobby, Level 1

Free

About the Singapore Shogi Group

GRANDMASTER GAMES

Play the Masters of Chess, Xiangqi & Weiqi! For this weekend only, watch or challenge some of Singapore's top mind-sports players at ACM.

Play with Chess Grandmaster Kevin Goh

Sat, 11 Oct, 4–5.30pm
ACM Green; Free

Play a blitz match against Grandmaster Kevin Goh, CEO of the Singapore Chess Federation, and stand a chance to win prizes! Limited slots are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Bullet Chess Match: Grandmaster Kevin Goh Vs. Hirfan Romzi, Aliwal Chess Club

Sat, 11 Oct, 6pm
Riverfront Entrance; Free

Watch Grandmaster Kevin Goh take on Hirfan Romzi, founder of Aliwal Chess Club on the giant chess installation, Checkmates! Experience a thrilling battle of speed and strategy – with lots of laughs along the way!

Bullet Chess Match: Grandmaster Kevin Goh Vs. Hirfan Romzi, Aliwal Chess Club

Play Xiangqi Top Players! Simultaneous Games with Lim Kwan How and Nicholas Lai

Sun, 12 Oct, 4pm–6pm

ACM Lobby; Free

Play with top players of xiangqi, Nicholas Lai (黎德義) and Lim Kwan How (林关浩) in a simultaneous xiangqi game with one player playing against 5 players. Test your skills and wit! Limited slots are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Play a Weiqi Grandmaster! Simultaneous Games with James Lee

Sun, 12 Oct, 6.30–8.30pm
ACM Lobby; Free

Play with the President of Singapore Weiqi Association in a simultaneous match of one master versus ten players. Will you emerge victorious?

Registration required here

Play a Weiqi Grandmaster! Simultaneous Games with James Lee

Sun, 12 Oct, 6.30–8.30pm
ACM Lobby; Free

Play with the President of Singapore Weiqi Association in a simultaneous match of one master versus ten players. Will you emerge victorious?

Registration required here

PERFORMANCES

Pesta Bayangan: Festival of Shadows, Festival of Imagination

Sat, 11 October, 4pm, 7pm
River Room, Level 2
Free performance

Enjoy wayang kulit performances at ACM! As part of Pesta Bayangan: Festival of Shadows, Festival of Imagination, with venue support from ACM during Crossing Cultures for the following performances:

4pm: Sena Ngundha Layangan (Sena Flies a Kite)

Betrayed and cast into the river, young Bratasena meets a sea serpent god who gives him a magical kite that amplifies his emotions. His sadness unleashes an epidemic in a broken world. Amid ruins and disasters, Bratasena discovers the true joy of play.

This performance features Wayang Cinema, an innovation pioneered by Ki Aneng Kiswantoro that combines shadow puppetry with cinematic visuals and live and digital music.

⁠7pm: Rama Tambak (Rama Builds a Causeway)

After prince Rama’s wife is kidnapped by the demon king Rahwana, Rama is furious and he uses his powers to heat the sea, killing everything. When the sea god pleads, Rama agrees to build a causeway with the help of an army of monkeys, despite resistance from sea creatures loyal to Rahwana.

Performers

Jan Mrázek has studied and performed Javanese shadow puppet theater and gamelan music for many years. He is Associate Professor in the Department of Southeast Asian Studies, NUS, and founding director of NUS Singa Nglaras Gamelan Ensemble.

Ki Aneng Kiswantoro is a well-known puppeteer, musician, and composer, and a lecturer at the Department of Puppetry in the Indonesian Institute of the Arts, Yogyakarta. He has revived rare genres of wayang, such as Wacinwa, and created new forms like Wayang Cinema.

Singa Nglaras Gamelan Ensemble, founded by Jan Mrázek in 2004, is made up of NUS students, alumni, and faculty and members from outside the university. Weekly latihan (practice sessions) combine learning, socialising, and enjoying music.

Pesta Bayangan: Festival of Shadows, Festival of Imagination

Sat, 11 October, 4pm, 7pm
River Room, Level 2
Free performance

4pm: Sena Ngundha Layangan (Sena Flies a Kite)

⁠7pm: Rama Tambak (Rama Builds a Causeway)

Performers

REGISTERED ACTIVITIES

"The Game of Knowledge” with Lore Obscure

Fri, 10 October, 7.30–9pm
River Room, Level 2
$10 refundable deposit; register on Peatix
Suitable for ages 18 and up

Embark on a tabletop role-playing adventure inspired by gyan chaupar, an ancient Indian game. Experience a high-fantasy storyline inspired by Asian myths. Climb ladders of wisdom, navigate treacherous descents, and see if you can reach the top before darkness claims the board.

Registration required here.

Learn to play Xiangqi with Lim Kwan How, President of the Singapore Xiangqi General Association

Sat, 11 Oct, 5.30–6.30pm

Discovery Room, Basement

$10 refundable deposit

Suitable for ages 18 and up

Discover the game of Xiangqi (Chinese chess). Learn about its history and be introduced to the basics of the game by Lim Kwan How, from the Singapore Xiangqi General Association. Solve puzzles and test your wits!

*Session will be conducted mostly in Mandarin with some English explanations.

Registration required here.

About the Singapore Xiangqi General Association

The Singapore Xiangqi General Association was established in 1934, and hosted the Southeast Asian Xiangqi Championship in 1968, which led to the establishment of the Asian Xiangqi Federation in 1978. The Association is one of the initiating units and founding members of the Federation - to popularise the art of xiangqi, connect enthusiasts, contribute to the improvement of skills, and promote the internationalisation of xiangqi.

Lim Kwan How (林关浩) is the President of the Singapore Xiangqi General Association and Secretary-General of the Asian Xiangqi Federation. He has researched of the origins of Xiangqi and has written publications on the history of Xiangqi in Singapore and Southeast Asia.

Learn to play Xiangqi with Lim Kwan How, President of the Singapore Xiangqi General Association

Sat, 11 Oct, 5.30–6.30pm

Discovery Room, Basement

$10 refundable deposit

Suitable for ages 18 and up

*Session will be conducted mostly in Mandarin with some English explanations.

Registration required here.

About the Singapore Xiangqi General Association

Curator Insights: Ancient Indian Games with Malvika Agarwal

Sun, 12 October, 5–6.30pm
Lobby, meeting point
$10 refundable deposit; All-access sticker required (not included in Peatix ticket)
For ages 18 and above.

Join Let's Play! co-curator Malvika Agarwal for an interactive tour highlighting both long-lost and popular games from India. Delight in the craftsmanship of traditional game sets and discover how these games travelled worldwide through trade and cultural exchange. Try your hand at playing some games featured in the exhibition!

This 90-minute experience includes a guided tour of the Let's Play! exhibition followed by a hands-on gaming session. All participants must hold a valid all-access ticket.

Malvika Agarwal is curator for South Asia at the Asian Civilisations Museum. Her research focuses on South Asian art, material culture, and community histories, including those of the South Asian diaspora. She is co-curator of Let’s Play!: The Art and Design of Asian Games (2025), and previously curated Sikhs in Singapore – A Story Untold (2021) and Chetti Melaka of the Straits –Rediscovering Peranakan Indian Communities (2018) at the Indian Heritage Centre, Singapore.

Registration required here.

Curator Insights: Ancient Indian Games with Malvika Agarwal

Sun, 12 October, 5–6.30pm
Lobby, meeting point
$10 refundable deposit; All-access sticker required (not included in Peatix ticket)
For ages 18 and above.

Registration required here.

WEIQI 101: Beginners Workshop with James Lee, President of Singapore Weiqi Association

Sun, 12 Oct, 4–5.30pm
Discovery Room, Basement
$10 refundable deposit; register on Peatix
Suitable for ages 16 and up

Discover the strategy game of weiqi, also known as go or baduk, played by scholars in China and later spread worldwide. In this beginner’s workshop, James Lee, President of the Singapore Weiqi Association, will introduce the history of the game and teach basic gameplay. Leave with a solid foundation and confidence to play!

About Singapore Weiqi Association
The Singapore Weiqi Association was founded in 1981 to promote and nurture weiqi in Singapore. Weiqi is taught in schools, played at community clubs, and enjoyed across Singapore. Beyond competition, weiqi cultivates patience, focus, and resilience, while connecting people across ages, languages, and cultures.

Registration required here.

WEIQI 101: Beginners Workshop with James Lee, President of Singapore Weiqi Association

Sun, 12 Oct, 4–5.30pm
Discovery Room, Basement
$10 refundable deposit; register on Peatix
Suitable for ages 16 and up

Quick Start to Singapore Mahjong with Mahjong Lah

Sun, 12 Oct, 4pm, 6pm
River Room, Level 2
$10 refundable deposit; Register to book your spot, with limited walk-in spaces available

Learn Singapore-style mahjong in this 90-minute crash course at ACM. You will learn the core rules and scoring system through guided hands-on play, experiencing the game's rhythm and strategy. Perfect for complete beginners – no knowledge of Chinese characters is required.

Each participant receives a Mahjong Lah exclusive 16-page summary booklet to continue learning beyond the session. Leave with the confidence to play and a deeper appreciation of mahjong as part of Singapore's living cultural heritage.

About Mahjong Lah
Mahjong Lah makes mahjong accessible and engaging for locals, tourists, and expats seeking deeper cultural experiences. They teach Singapore-style mahjong, blending gameplay with traditions, stories, and social rituals. Since 2019, they have conducted hundreds of sessions, coached thousands of players worldwide, and built a thriving community. Their coaches simplify the game without losing its depth, helping participants enjoy its history, strategy, and heart – while having fun along the way.

Registration required here.

Quick Start to Singapore Mahjong with Mahjong Lah

Sun, 12 Oct, 4pm, 6pm
River Room, Level 2
$10 refundable deposit; Register to book your spot, with limited walk-in spaces available

Visit Asian Civilisations Museum today

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Video

Crossing Cultures at ACM: Ready, Set, Play!

Programme

Programme Highlights

Programme Highlights

DROP-IN ACTIVITIES

Happy Hour at ACM: Friday Night Special

Game Nights at the Foyer

Knights at the Museum with Aliwal Chess Club

Mahjong Day with Mahjong Lah

Huat Keychain with Arterly Obsessed

Learn to play Shogi with the Singapore Shogi Group

GRANDMASTER GAMES

Play with Chess Grandmaster Kevin Goh

Bullet Chess Match: Grandmaster Kevin Goh Vs. Hirfan Romzi, Aliwal Chess Club

Play Xiangqi Top Players! Simultaneous Games with Lim Kwan How and Nicholas Lai

Play a Weiqi Grandmaster! Simultaneous Games with James Lee

PERFORMANCES

Pesta Bayangan: Festival of Shadows, Festival of Imagination

REGISTERED ACTIVITIES

"The Game of Knowledge” with Lore Obscure

Learn to play Xiangqi with Lim Kwan How, President of the Singapore Xiangqi General Association

Curator Insights: Ancient Indian Games with Malvika Agarwal

WEIQI 101: Beginners Workshop with James Lee, President of Singapore Weiqi Association

Quick Start to Singapore Mahjong with Mahjong Lah

DROP-IN ACTIVITIES

Happy Hour at ACM: Friday Night Special

Game Nights at the Foyer

Knights at the Museum with Aliwal Chess Club

Mahjong Day with Mahjong Lah

Huat Keychain with Arterly Obsessed

Learn to play Shogi with the Singapore Shogi Group

GRANDMASTER GAMES

Play with Chess Grandmaster Kevin Goh

Bullet Chess Match: Grandmaster Kevin Goh Vs. Hirfan Romzi, Aliwal Chess Club

Play Xiangqi Top Players! Simultaneous Games with Lim Kwan How and Nicholas Lai

Play a Weiqi Grandmaster! Simultaneous Games with James Lee

PERFORMANCES

Pesta Bayangan: Festival of Shadows, Festival of Imagination

REGISTERED ACTIVITIES

"The Game of Knowledge” with Lore Obscure

Learn to play Xiangqi with Lim Kwan How, President of the Singapore Xiangqi General Association

Curator Insights: Ancient Indian Games with Malvika Agarwal

WEIQI 101: Beginners Workshop with James Lee, President of Singapore Weiqi Association

Quick Start to Singapore Mahjong with Mahjong Lah