The Arts House

The Arts House is a multidisciplinary arts centre housed in Singapore's former Parliament House at 1 Old Parliament Lane in the Downtown Core's City Hall area. Built in 1827 and gazetted as a National Monument in 1992, the restored colonial building served as Singapore's Parliament from 1965 to 1999. Now managed as a venue for literary and performing arts, it hosts exhibitions, performances, festivals and film screenings along the Singapore River.

Visitors can expect a restored two-storey colonial building with white colonnaded facades, galleries, a chamber hall, screening room and courtyard along the Singapore River. Inside are art exhibitions, literary events, live performances, film screenings and festivals. Public areas include galleries and corridors displaying heritage architecture, with a café, bookshop and event spaces. The setting is urban and riverside, close to the Civic District's museums and monuments.

Originally built in 1827 as a residence for Scottish merchant John Argyle Maxwell, the building was later used as a courthouse and government offices. It served as the Parliament House of Singapore from 1965 to 1999. Gazetted as a National Monument on 14 February 1992, it was restored and reopened in 2004 as The Arts House.

Functions as a multidisciplinary arts centre with an emphasis on literary arts, serving as a venue for exhibitions, performances, film screenings and major arts festivals. It is a key cultural venue in the Civic District that preserves and presents Singapore's parliamentary heritage through arts programming.