Its time once again for GovCamp Singapore, our island’s only “unconference” focusing on how citizens and government can work together to improve our lives using technology as an enabler.
The second event this year – I moderated one of the sessions in the first in on 19 January – GovCamp looks at positioning government as a platform to engage key stakeholders in a country (namely everyone of us!) in a spirit of open collaboration, ideation, networking, and joint problem solving.
As part of my recent work trip to London, I spent many hours visiting numerous museums and art galleries in the city, topped by a full day meeting with the Tate Group. The institutions I visited include the Tate Modern, National Gallery London, National Portrait Gallery, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A Museum, and the British Museum. While the trip was exhausting – we’ve put together a comprehensive report on its outcomes – there were many learning points that we have gleaned from some of the world’s leading cultural institutions.
Here are 20 highlights of my trip, in no particular order. Note that this list is quite museum-centric as that’s where I spent most of my time. Each highlight is accompanied by a photograph.
An eye catching installation at the entrance of the V&A Museum.
“We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” – Randy Pausch (RIP 25 July 2008)
I first blogged about Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch back in 28 July 2008, 3 days after his death from pancreatic cancer. So moved was I by the video of his last lecture (do watch it if you haven’t done so), that I bought the book. Of course, this was way before the recent death of the more famous Steve Jobs of Apple.
Are there qualities common to entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs? (Courtesy of Digital Trends)
As the world continues to moan over the demise of Apple head honcho Steve Jobs, numerous articles have been written about his entrepreneurial legacy.
These cover the length and breadth of his astounding career as one of the century’s greatest CEOs.
iPhone 4S’s short battery life was blamed on the super juiced up iOS 5(courtesy of Obama Pacman)
Something wrong seems to be happening in the hallowed corridors of Tech.
First, we’re met with the “dynamic” and ever changing new Facebook News Feed which apparently is riling many of us. Between “Top Stories”, “Recent Stories”, “New Entries”, and the ever updating Ticker on the right which gives me a constant migraine.
Aerial view of the Smithsonian museums in Washington DC (source: Tripadvisor)
Fantastic Beasts – the newest phenomenon from the wizarding world of Harry Potter (Image from Geek Tyrant)
Have you watched the latest blockbuster movie Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them?
J.K. Rowling’s latest installment – a prequel to the much beloved Harry Potter series – swept cinemas around the world with much critical acclaim. Based on a 2001 book written under her pen name Newt Scamander, it is the newest piece of the Harry Potter universe.
NHB’s Night Festival 2008
I love reading Nina Simon’s Museum 2.0 blog for her cutting insights on stuff happening in my neck of the woods. One of the issues that she recently wrote about – audience development – is something that museums and art galleries in Singapore are also grappling with.
In her post, Nina questioned the need for museums to organise “hip” events to attract younger audiences at the expense of alienating a broader more diverse crowd. While many museums have shifted from being a “cabinet of curiosities” for an elite few to “community destinations”, the question now arises whether their activities should be narrowly focused on distinct segments or appeal more broadly across visitor groups.
According to the latest post on Church of the Customer, the most important platform for consumers to talk about brands isn’t on Facebook, Google +, Twitter or even SMS! Rather, it is good old person-to-person communication in the flesh (well at least in the US).
Have a look at this chart here from eMarketer:
Source: eMarketer.com
Do you ever wonder why some people look fab in black, while others look sinister? Want to add a dash of colour to your professional wardrobe without looking like a clown (or 7th month Getai singer)?
I found out the answers to this and more at a recent Colour Dynamics seminar organised by Jill Lowe International, thanks to my buddy James Soh (Living in Singapore Today) and the folks from Jill Lowe. Held at their cosy premises at level 2 of the Raffles Hotel Arcade, the session provided much food for thought.
