Singapore Pinacothèque de Paris
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Art museum |
| Founded | May 30, 2015 |
| Defunct | April 10, 2016 |
| Fate | Closed due to low visitor turnout and financial difficulties |
| Headquarters | Singapore , Singapore |
| Products | Art exhibitions |
Singapore Pinacothèque de Paris was a privately operated art museum situated within the Fort Canning Arts Centre at Fort Canning Park, Singapore. It commenced operations on 30 May 2015 and ceased on 10 April 2016, attributing its closure to "visitor turnout below expectations and various business and financial difficulties".
This Singapore location represented the inaugural overseas branch of the Pinacothèque de Paris, a private museum based in Paris that was established in 2007, entered receivership in November 2015, and permanently shut down in February 2016.
Background
The official launch of Singapore Pinacothèque de Paris took place on 29 May 2015, occupying approximately across three levels of Fort Canning Centre—a historic structure dating back to 1926 that originally served as barracks for the British Army. The venture was collaboratively developed by Marc Restellini, Yves Bouvier, Alain Vandenborre, and KOP Properties.
Renovation of Fort Canning Centre
From 2014 to 2015, Fort Canning Centre underwent extensive refurbishment and reopened as Fort Canning Arts Centre. This revamped space accommodated Singapore Pinacothèque de Paris alongside retail and dining establishments, some of which continued operations even after the museum's closure. The renovation project, costing US$24 million, was partially financed by the Singapore Tourism Board.
Exhibitions
- 2015
- Launch of the Permanent Collection and Heritage Gallery.
- The Myth of Cleopatra.
- 2016
- Pressionism: Graffiti Masterpieces on Canvas.
Controversies and closure
The museum encountered challenges linked to insufficient visitor attendance, which adversely affected the financial performance of commercial tenants within Fort Canning Centre. Moreover, investor Yves Bouvier faced allegations from a Russian art collector accusing him of selling stolen or inflated artworks—claims he has consistently refuted.
Operations ended on 10 April 2016. Following the shutdown, Art Heritage Singapore—the entity managing the museum—became subject to legal action in Singapore by an Italian exhibition organiser seeking around €435,000 in damages.