AFTER 16 years of service with the National Heritage Board (NHB), including 14 years as the Director of Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM), Dr Kenson Kwok, 58, will retire by the end of the year to spend more time with his family and to pursue his own interests.

Dr Kwok first joined the museum service as a Senior Curator in 1992. He was then immediately tasked to set up ACM as part of an ambitious plan to establish a group of national museums in Singapore.

In 1994, he was made Director of the ACM. His mission then was to set up a museum that would trace the ancestral cultures of Singaporeans.

With a small group of staff and a modest construction and acquisition budget, he embarked on a programme to garner local and international support for the new institution.

The efforts of the initial team culminated in the opening of the first wing of the ACM in 1997 at the old Tao Nan School at Armenian Street. The second wing of ACM was launched in 2003 with the 14,300 square metres Empress Place Building - a colonial structure on the banks of the historic Singapore River. Also known as its flagship museum, ACM, Empress Place was officially opened in March 2003.

Covering 5,000 years of Asian history and culture, the museum features 10 galleries with displays on Southeast Asia, China, West Asia and South Asia.

Dr Kwok, an architect by training, was heavily involved in the conversion of both of these national monuments.

During his tenure as Director of ACM, Dr Kwok helmed the development of the museum's collection, its expansion into new collection areas (South Asian and Islamic), as well as its exhibition programme.

'These have all brought the museum a reputation for quality. The ACM has received widespread critical acclaim both internationally and locally for its small yet exquisite pan-Asian collection presented in a subtle yet innovative manner,' said a statement from NHB on Monday.

Over the years, Dr Kwok was also actively involved in facilitating cash and artefact donations amounting to over $32 million, and long-term loans to the value of over $137 million. These often involved him working personally with donors and collectors. With the museum?s new facilities and growing public interest, annual visitorship has increased from 80,000 in 1997 to over 500,000 visitors in 2007.

The publishing programme of ACM has also been one of its quiet successes, with 19 reference publications produced since 1991. Dr Kwok's deep personal interest in Chinese ceramics has led him to research the Hickley collection of Dehua porcelain which was given to the ACM in 2000. He was also one of the distinguished contributors to the catalogue of the Hickley Collection published in 2002.

Dr Kwok was also the driving force behind the establishment of the Peranakan Museum, which is Singapore's newest museum. This was officially opened by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 26 April in the refurbished Armenian Street building where the first wing of ACM once stood.

Said Mr Michael Koh, Chief Executive Officer of NHB on Monday : 'As the founding director of ACM, Kenson played a tremendous role in guiding it through the years to become a widely acclaimed museum of international stature. He has put ACM on the museum map of the world.'

'During his tenure, Kenson spearheaded the development of three different museums and brought in blockbuster exhibitions such as Alamkara: 5000 years of India, Eternal Egypt: Treasures from the British Museum and the recent On The Nalanda Trail: Buddhism in India, China and Southeast Asia. Kenson's contribution has raised the profile of Asian arts and culture in Singapore and beyond.'

Added Ms Priscylla Shaw, Chairman of ACM: 'Dr Kwok will be very much missed at ACM as its Director, by Board Members, staff and volunteers alike. ACM and its Board are deeply grateful to Dr Kwok for his years of dedication, and values the time that they have worked together not only on exhibitions but also on all the other facets of museum life such as acquisitions, programmes, publications, development, and special events.'

For his efforts in raising the profile of Asian arts and culture, Dr Kwok was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) (2004), Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (2004), and Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur (2006). The latter two accolades were presented by the French government.

To recognise his many contributions, NHB intends to appoint Dr Kwok as Director Emeritus after his retirement. In this capacity, he will continue to assist in furthering ACM's and NHB's interests.

An international executive search has been initiated to find Dr Kwok's successor. Dr Kwok has kindly agreed to remain in his post until the end of the year, said NHB.