Hall of Fame @ Kampong Gelam: Activities With Urban Art & Local Artists

Having made waves as Southeast Asia’s first official graffiti Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame @ Kampong Gelam keeps the visitor experience fresh with a slew of new neighbourhood art programming from July 2021. Set against the historic and vibrant backdrop of Kampong Gelam, from its street art-lined alleys, traditional businesses to iconic cultural landmarks, visitors can re-experience the precinct with activities themed around urban art and home-grown artists.

Led by One Kampong Gelam, the association representing and supporting the interests of stakeholders in the precinct, the urban arts-themed tours and workshops for Hall of Fame @ Kampong Gelam are supported by the Singapore Tourism Board and Blu Jaz Cafe.

Hall of Fame @ Kampong Gelam – Urban Arts-themed Workshops & Walking Tours

Working closely with businesses and offbeat tour operators, One Kampong Gelam has curated four unique urban arts-themed adventures. Get insights into the stories of the neighbourhood’s communities through the outdoor murals,  all while discovering the myriad establishments – both hidden and prominent – that line the precinct.

Be enthralled by and capture the vibrant stories that make Kampong Gelam the city state’s iconic art and cultural hub with Polaroid Walk – Every Wall Tells A Story (SG$100/person; 2 hours). Delve into the history of street art along the colourful streets of Haji Lane and Bali Lane on a two-hour walking tour led by a friendly guide and polaroid enthusiast. Participants will be equipped with a Polaroid camera and film rolls for photo opportunities at three to four highlighted locations.

Unleash your inner artist with Discova’s Counter-Culture Street Art Workshop at Kampong Gelam (SG$89.50 / person; 2.5 hours). Draw inspiration from key locations on Haji Lane, which have been iconic in shaping and birthing local creative expression since the early 2000s. Stops include B Side Records to touch on the influence of music in the street art subculture; and graffiti store Blackbook Studio for a glimpse into the different processes of making art. Be privy to stories about wall murals that are and once were along the alleys of Kampong Gelam before arriving at the Hall of Fame on Bali Lane, where participants will learn stencilling and lettering techniques with guidance from one of the artists of the HOF. Take home your very own spray-painted canvas creation afterwards!

Snacks and drinks from Blu Jaz Cafe are included in this tour and will be packed for takeaway in line with the latest COVID-19 measures.

Cruise down Hall of Fame @ Kampong Gelam in a vintage Vespa sidecar with Kampong Gelam Hall of Fame Sidecar Tour (SG$160/hour/person; 60, 120 or 180 minutes). Known for their heritage tours replete with iconic landmarks and hidden gems, the tour matches participants with their own Vespa driver, who embed nuggets of the neighbourhood’s rich history into their entertaining, personal stories. The ride will take guests through Bali Lane and Haji Lane, for unparalleled views of the five-metre tall murals.

Last but not least, take in the striking murals at your own pace with the Self-Guided Audio Tour (free) produced by Mama Magnet, the art programming agency involved in the making of the  Hall of  Fame  @ Kampong Gelam. The 12-minute tour is a cheat sheet to identifying symbols found in each artist’s work, assisting listeners to recognise the unique styles of Singapore-based artists. Tune in through your mobile phone by accessing the audio file here, and feel the murals come alive as you hear sound bites and interviews with the participating street artists.

Hall of Fame @ Kampong Gelam – Exclusive Offers & Promotions

Visitors to Kampong Gelam can also look out for exclusive offers and discounts at participating outlets around Haji Lane and Bali Lane. Simply scan the QR code sticker featuring a prominent Hall of Fame logo at merchant shops and be led to a web page that entitles you to the offer. Participating outlets and promotions include Madd Pizza offering 10% off a full Margherita Pizza and multi-label boutique Goodluck Bunch, with a 10% discount on Champion merchandise.

The full list of offers will be updated throughout the month of August here.

Hall of Fame @ Kampong Gelam – A Kaleidoscope In Motion

Hall of Fame @ Kampong Gelam has established itself as one of the largest outdoor mural experiences in Southeast Asia. Like a kaleidoscope in motion, the walls will continue to evolve over the next two years as One Kampong Gelam invites new artists to paint on the five-metre tall barriers.

Having worked closely with the artists that have directly shaped the neighbourhood and witnessed its flourishing, One Kampong Gelam representative and Blu Jaz owner Aileen Tan says “Artists and businesses share a symbiotic relationship where both are in a position to elevate the other. When businesses patronize artists, it brings economic benefits which can then circle back to the arts and grow the ecosystem. We invite new artists to use the Hall of Fame @ Kampong Gelam as their canvas.”

Interested artists can submit concepts for their murals starting  July  2021  here.  Working with a panel of artists and arts managers, One Kampong Gelam will notify selected artists by October 2021. Artists will be informed of the mural painting process and procedures upon selection at a later date.

Those wanting to learn more about the unique relationship between street art and Kampong Gelam can check out the three-episode mini-series Street Art in Kampong Gelam. All three episodes are available for viewing via the official website here.

With these initiatives, One Kampong Gelam continues its celebration of culture, diversity and freedom of expression by connecting visitors with the urban art that threads through the many charms of Kampong Gelam. For more information, please visit HOF.visitkamponggelam.com.sg.