Came from a let’s-catch-up lunch thingee by the National Heritage Board. Didn’t stay for lunch, but I did da pao some info for you guys. They’re quite happy about how things turned out in 2010, with 2.7 million people going to the museums and an amazing 8.8 million participating in their outreach events. The year before was 6.9 million. I asked NHB CEO what accounts for the spike and it’s basically because of the exhibitions they’ve toured to the schools and heartlands. Nice mega effort, guys. But I'm also thinking, is everyone too lazy to take the MRT and just head down to the museums? C’mon dudes, you gots to have some exercise! Anyway, there’s a lot lined up for 2011. Here are 10 reasons that should prompt you to go to the museums. 1. IT’S GOING LOCAL. According to the NHB folks, 85% of the shows at all their museums will be local and regional. 2. VAN GOGH. And Cezanne, Monet, Renoir, Courbet, Degas, Manet. Their works are coming here for the much awaited exhibition from Musee d’Orsay at the National Museum of Singapore in October. 3. BRUCE NAUMAN. And Nam June Paik, Samuel Beckett, Bill Viola. Their works will be here for the video art exhibition in collaboration with Centre Pompidou at SAM and SAM 8Q in June. 4. ABBAS. A retrospective on one of the pillars of Magnum Photos, chronicling his first 45 years as a photojournalism, including images from the Iranian Revolution. At the National Museum in June. 5. TERRACOTTA WARRIORS. The real deal and not the repros mind you. They’ll be called to inaction at the Asian Civilisations Museum in June. 6. SOUTH-EAST ASIAN CONTEMPORARY ART. Two decades worth. Fifty-five artists from six countries in the region. It looks pretty extensive and apparently it’s never been done before. 20 years leh. Over at SAM in March. 7. LIU KANG. After Cheong Soo Pieng, the National Art Gallery is setting its sights on this pioneer artist on centennial year of his birth. At SAM in July. 8. COLLECTORS’ STAGE. It’s ongoing at SAM and two other venues. It’s impressive. Nuff said. 9. AMANDA HENG. Next in line in SAM’s mid-career surveys after Vincent Leow is this one on recent Cultural Medallion recipient. Go Amanda! Over at SAM 8Q in October. 10. WORLD OF TEMASEK. And because I’m really still a geek at heart. Here’s my token geek must-check out. It’s apparently an online game that “aims to reconstruct 14th century Singapore”. Although I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be something like Farmville or Second Life. Anyway, it’s due to be launched in March.