The government is rolling out new initiatives to bolster the preservation and revitalisation of Singapore’s historic districts, focusing on citizen engagement, dedicated project support and cultural placemaking.
One such initiative is the Little India Citizen Engagement Project, an effort to document the stories of heritage businesses within the precinct, shared Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth Low Yen Ling at MCCY’s Committee of Supply (COS) debate on Mar 5.
Building on the success of similar projects in Kampong Gelam and Chinatown, this initiative invites citizen volunteers to meaningfully engage with the district’s businesses.
The National Heritage Board (NHB) aims to recruit 60 volunteers to document the journeys of 50 heritage businesses, covering their origins, traditional practices, social ties, cultural significance, and how they have evolved and adapted to changing times. This documentation is crucial for safeguarding Singapore’s living heritage and will inform NHB’s future policies.
NHB will launch an open call for volunteers and reach out to heritage businesses in Little India by mid 2026. Following training, interviews will commence in the second half of 2026, with the collected stories slated for publication in 2027.
“These efforts remind us that heritage endures not only because it is preserved by institutions, but because it is kept alive by people,” said Ms Low.
To provide structured, long-term support for historic district stakeholders, NHB is also forming a new Placemaking Project Office (PPO). This will be co-chaired by Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim and Ms Low.
Operating under the Interagency Task Force for Heritage Businesses, Traditional Trades and Cultural Life, the PPO will work closely with key district stakeholders, such as the Little India Shopowners’ & Heritage Association, said Ms Low.
This office is a direct response to feedback from stakeholders in historic districts who sought greater support for placemaking initiatives to drive vibrancy, footfall, and revenue for heritage businesses.
The PPO will provide seed funding, link community groups to relevant agencies and build capabilities to design, implement and provide support for heritage businesses. It will progressively be engaging stakeholders in the historic districts from Q1 2026.
By fostering a deeper understanding of these districts, the PPO seeks to encourage more Singaporeans to visit and experience their heritage firsthand.
