The Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) is the first museum in the region to present a broad yet integrated perspective of pan-Asian cultures and civilisations. As one of the National Museums of Singapore under the National Heritage Board, we seek to promote a better appreciation of the rich cultures that make up Singapore's multi-ethnic society.

While Singapore's forefathers came to settle in Singapore from many parts of Asia within the last 200 years, the cultures brought to Singapore by these different people are far more ancient. This aspect of Singapore's history is the focus of the ACM. The Museum's collection therefore centres on the material cultures of the different groups originating from China, Southeast Asia, South Asia and West Asia.

Its first premises at Armenian Street was opened on 21 April 1997 by then Deputy PM Lee Hsien Loong, with two-thirds of its galleries showcasing the Chinese civilisation. Later on, its displays focused on the Peranakan culture, featuring fine collections of Peranakan silver, porcelain and jewellery and a re-creation of a monumental altar from the mansion of one of the wealthiest Peranakan families in Singapore. The Armenian Street building closed at the end of 2005, to be redeveloped into a brand new Peranakan Museum. Operated and managed by the Asian Civilisations Museum, the Peranakan Museum was officially opened on 25 April 2008 by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The Asian Civilisations Museum's flagship at Empress Place opened on 2 March 2003. Occupying over 14,000 square metres at the newly-restored Empress Place Building, it houses 11 galleries which showcase over 1300 artefacts from the Museum's growing collections on the civilisations of China, Southeast Asia, South Asia and West Asia/ Islamic. These collections include recent acquisitions as well as artefacts inherited from the historic Southeast Asian ethnographic collection of the former Raffles Museum. Visitors can enjoy a programme of changing special exhibitions throughout the year.

ACM Empress Place houses a café and a restaurant, a museum shop, fully-equipped auditorium and a function room with a spectacular view of the Singapore River.