200,000 tickets to The Future of Us exhibition released for Jan 2016

SINGAPORE - Tickets to The Future of Us exhibition which showcases what Singapore could be like in 2030 are running out fast.

More than 85 per cent of the tickets were snapped up for the opening month of December, according to the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI).

A representative from MCI told AsiaOne that 200,000 tickets were officially released Tuesday for January next year. Since tickets are hot in demand, they will be released to the public a month before.

The free exhibition, which runs from today (Dec 1) to Mar 8 next year, is at Gardens by the Bay and offers a glimpse of what the next chapter in Singapore's story could look like and calls on Singaporeans to share their dreams for the nation. It is the last major instalment for Singapore's SG50 Golden Jubilee celebrations.

The journey begins by exploring the link between two generations of Singaporeans in the 1960s and in 2030. Visitors are guided through six interactive zones which build on the legacy of Singapore's founding fathers. The six zones are: The Future Express, Theatre of Generations, Symphony of the City, Home Tomorrow, Blue Skies, The Lion and The Marketplace.

A highlight of the exhibition is the short film at the Theatre of Generations. The spectacular 360-degree dome projection and 3-D effects will leave viewers in awe.

Visitors can also try their hand at interactive elements in the Home Tomorrow section. This section also houses a display of what learning in Singapore could be like, where species of plants are identified instantly with mobile devices.

At the official media tour on Tuesday, Minister for Finance and chairman of the SG50 steering committee Mr Heng Swee Keat was present to welcome the first group of visitors to the exhibition.

Among the 200 people present in the first group of visitors was Ms Josephine Ng. The 39-year-old manager, who brought her 11-year-old and 14-year-old sons along, said that it was interesting to see how technology and our lives can be enhanced for the next generation.

Speaking to reporters at a media interview, Mr Heng said that he hopes the exhibition will "catalyse new ideas" for the future of Singapore.

Still looking excited even though it was his fifth time there, he said: "I'm delighted (at) how Singaporeans have come together to celebrate SG50. There should be a strong sense of ownership that this is our home."

Three must-sees at the Future of Us exhibition:

Theatre of Generations section

See a short film that documents the journey of ordinary Singaporeans as they draw inspiration from their forefathers and push towards a better Singapore. This is shown on a spectacular 360-degree dome projection at the Theatre of Generations section.

Symphony of the City section

Symphony of the City has a 270-degree wrap-around multimedia screen where a possible cityscape of Singapore in the future is projected through the continuation of the character stories from Theatre of Generations.

Home Tomorrow section

Try your hand at interactive elements in the Home Tomorrow section. This section shows how our lives in our homes and neighbourhoods in Singapore will look like in the future.

stephluo@sph.com.sg