A never-before-seen 400-page diary, a dinner menu, a toothbrush fashioned from scratch. These artefacts at the revamped Changi Chapel and Museum (CCM) will shed light on the riveting personal stories of prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians interned in Changi prison camp during the Japanese Occupation.
Closed in 2018 for a major redevelopment to enhance the museum’s infrastructure and content, Changi Chapel and Museum CCM will reopen its doors on 19 May 2021. Featuring donations and community loans from families of the internees, the museum will showcase 114 artefacts across eight galleries delving into the daily lives of the internees, their responses to the challenges they faced, and their eventual liberation.
Centred on a narrative of remembrance and reflection, the new CCM seeks to present an immersive experience that combines personal artefacts with new multimedia offerings to convey the stories and experiences of POWs and civilian internees in Changi during the Japanese Occupation in Singapore.
The narrative is presented in eight exhibition zones: Changi Fortress, Fallen Fortress, The Interned, Life as POW, Resilience in Adversity, Creativity in Adversity, Liberation and Legacies. In addition to the new artefacts and exhibits on display, the revamped CCM also boasts new features to enhance visitors’ experience.
To commemorate the reopening of CCM, all visitors will enjoy free admission from 19 to 30 May 2021. Guided tours of the gallery and a recorded orchestral performance based on the experiences of the POWs will be presented during its Opening Weekend on 22 and 23 May.
Visitors are encouraged to pre-book their museum admission tickets and sign up for the opening weekend programmes ahead of their visit from 17 May, 12 noon onwards. Opening hours. 9.30am to 5.30pm (Tuesdays to Sundays) Closed every Monday except Public Holidays Last admission at 5pm
Visitors can also purchase CCM publications and museum-inspired merchandise from the museum shop, and enjoy a meal at the museum’s F&B outlet, The Bark Café. Call +65 6545 4118 for advanced bookings.The Bark Café Opens daily from 11am to 11pm Established in 2002, The Bark Café has found a following of loyal customers over the years with its offering of tasty and reasonably-priced Western and Asian dishes, friendly service and cosy ambience.
Its casual, friendly atmosphere makes it popular with families and the young working crowd, and visitors to the Changi Museum and Chapel also appreciate it as a place to reflect and recharge after viewing poignant exhibits and stories of the war in Singapore.
a. 1000 Upper Changi Road North Singapore 507707
