Keynote Speaker 1
Shaun Choh is Senior Curator at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre. He holds a Master of Arts in Chinese Studies from the National University of Singapore and has curated exhibitions including SINGAPO人: Discovering Chinese Singaporean Culture, Legends of Singapore Comedy, and Healing Heritage. Outside the gallery, he spends his time growing plants and living under the quiet authority of his cats.
Topic: People Make Culture: How Traditions Continue Through Change
When we hear the phrase “cultural preservation”, we often think of museums protecting artefacts or experts safeguarding traditions. But culture is not only preserved in archives and galleries. It also lives in everyday life, in the memories we carry, and in the creative ways each generation reshapes what they inherit.
This talk explores how young people today engage with culture in different ways. From practising traditional arts to reinterpreting heritage through new ideas and businesses, these examples show that culture remains meaningful when it evolves. It also reflects on how bilingual and bicultural identities can become a bridge for understanding, sharing, and reimagining culture in contemporary society.