Singapore: Among 27 new heritage patrons lauded this year were first-time donors Aziz Merchant, 48, and his wife Reshma, 42. Their interest in West Asia saw them supporting the ACM’s exhibition, Treasures Of The Aga Khan: Architecture In Islamic Arts, last year. They made a cash donation of $155,000, of which $80,000 went to the Aga Khan show, and the remainder to NHB’s acquisition fund.
They said their 10-year-old daughter’s ACM visit last year inspired them to donate. “That was the catalyst,” said Mr Merchant, executive director of Keppel Offshore and Marine Technology Centre. His wife is the head and senior consultant of general medicine at National University Hospital.
He added: “Art and artefacts really drive the learning experience and we could see how much our daughter was influenced by her museum visit.”
Ismailimail 