Post by oldmike on Mar 6, 2007 17:54:28 GMT 7
MR CHANG Yang Fa, 56, is an electrical engineer who never outgrew his love for toys. And his passion has fuelled a very grown-up and selfless wish to share his 30-year-old toy collection with the rest of Singapore - in a museum.
His dream materialised last night and the occasion was made all the more poignant by the presence of a man who helped him to make it possible - Foreign Minister George Yeo, who was there to officially declare open Singapore's Mint Museum of Toys.
Mint Museum of Toys is at 26 Seah Street. Admission fee: $10 for adults, $5 for children between two and 12.
Mint stands for Moment of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys, explained Mr Chang.
The five-storey museum along Seah Street showcases toys from his 50,000-piece collection, valued at more than $5 million.
The displays will change every three to six months.
Speaking at the opening, Mr Yeo recalled his first meeting with Mr Chang in Punggol: 'It was one of those Meet-the-People sessions and Mr Chang came up and told me of his strange request to start a museum of toys.
'I was delighted to hear that, as two months before, my wife and I had visited a puppet museum in Lubeck, Germany, and it was fascinating to see in one location puppets from all over the world, including Chinese wayang (opera) puppets from Singapore.'
Mr Chang had found himself a strong supporter. Mr Yeo wrote to Spring Singapore to ask for funding and also raised the idea with National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan, who oversees the Urban Redevelopment Authority.
Mr Yeo said of the power of Mr Chang's consuming passion: 'Without passion, there can be no great achievement. And this should be an inspiration to all of us.'
Housed in a modern gallery converted from a former shophouse, the museum is the world's first purpose-built toy museum, said its founder.
A part of the $2 million needed to build it came from the Singapore Tourism Board, and the rest, from Mr Chang's own funds.
The museum's designer Chan Soo Khian of SCDA Architects said it was built to mimic a contemporary glass toy box. Its facade blocks out the sun's ultraviolet rays to protect the displays within.
The museum opened its doors in a soft launch last May and the public's response has been encouraging, though it could be better, said Mr Chang. 'We want to raise the level of awareness. This kind of museum takes time to be accepted and appreciated and Singaporeans are getting increasingly sophisticated.'
He said the museum will eventually share its earnings with disadvantaged children in Singapore and the region.
His dream materialised last night and the occasion was made all the more poignant by the presence of a man who helped him to make it possible - Foreign Minister George Yeo, who was there to officially declare open Singapore's Mint Museum of Toys.
Mint Museum of Toys is at 26 Seah Street. Admission fee: $10 for adults, $5 for children between two and 12.
Mint stands for Moment of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys, explained Mr Chang.
The five-storey museum along Seah Street showcases toys from his 50,000-piece collection, valued at more than $5 million.
The displays will change every three to six months.
Speaking at the opening, Mr Yeo recalled his first meeting with Mr Chang in Punggol: 'It was one of those Meet-the-People sessions and Mr Chang came up and told me of his strange request to start a museum of toys.
'I was delighted to hear that, as two months before, my wife and I had visited a puppet museum in Lubeck, Germany, and it was fascinating to see in one location puppets from all over the world, including Chinese wayang (opera) puppets from Singapore.'
Mr Chang had found himself a strong supporter. Mr Yeo wrote to Spring Singapore to ask for funding and also raised the idea with National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan, who oversees the Urban Redevelopment Authority.
Mr Yeo said of the power of Mr Chang's consuming passion: 'Without passion, there can be no great achievement. And this should be an inspiration to all of us.'
Housed in a modern gallery converted from a former shophouse, the museum is the world's first purpose-built toy museum, said its founder.
A part of the $2 million needed to build it came from the Singapore Tourism Board, and the rest, from Mr Chang's own funds.
The museum's designer Chan Soo Khian of SCDA Architects said it was built to mimic a contemporary glass toy box. Its facade blocks out the sun's ultraviolet rays to protect the displays within.
The museum opened its doors in a soft launch last May and the public's response has been encouraging, though it could be better, said Mr Chang. 'We want to raise the level of awareness. This kind of museum takes time to be accepted and appreciated and Singaporeans are getting increasingly sophisticated.'
He said the museum will eventually share its earnings with disadvantaged children in Singapore and the region.
