In this issue, exhibitions covered will feature topics that transcend the boundaries of time and geography. In our cover story – Port Cities: Multicultural Emporiums of Asia, 1500 –1900 (page 4), explores the impact that a port city has on local culture, a topic particularly relevant to Singapore. You can find out more about how waterways facilitated the movement of goods and created an environment where cultures met and merged. This article sets the context for the exhibition, which is currently on display at the Asian Civilisations Museum.