International Museum Day
International Museum Day
‘International Museum Day’ is an international celebration of museums around the world, which is coordinated by the International Council of Museums. It is celebrated on or around May 18 every year. The day revels the importance of museums and their impact on the social culture and history of a place.
The International Museum Day was officially established in the year 1977 with the adoption of a resolution during the International Council of Museum’s (ICOM) General Assembly that was held in Moscow. Since then, the ICOM established the International Museum Day as an occasion for thousands of participating museums to organise events and conduct activities around a common theme which helps to highlight the role played by museums as institutions that serve society for its development. The Theme
The theme for this year’s International Museum Day is ‘Museums as Cultural Hubs: The Future of Tradition’. The theme will explore the legacy and work of museums, while educating its visitors about the evolution of museums over the past few decades. The day will also talk about the transformation of museums and their role for the future.
Why celebrate this day?As museums serve as significant means of cultural exchange which help in the development and enrichment of mutual understanding and co-operation among societies, it is also important to preserve and celebrate these educational landmarks.
Museums help build the relationship between cultural heritage and beliefs by the proper interpretation of artifacts. They help engage collect and conserve cultural masterpieces that are used to educate the public. Museums also help in sharing a particular community's knowledge by showcasing it on a larger platform for a diverse range of visitors. They organise workshops, conduct seminars for students and also help spark their interest in art. Thus, the role of museums in the world’s cultural history remains huge.
What can schools and teachers do?
The appreciation of art and museums is often developed at the school level, where students are exposed to a range of artifacts which emphasise and trace cultural roots. Thus, it is imperative to educate students at a young age. Here are some of the ways by which teachers can celebrate International Museum Day-
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Teachers can organise a museum visit for the students to explore, learn and understand the art and culture of their locality.
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Teachers can get their students to create a project on some of the interesting museums of the world and share their research in the class.
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Teachers can invite a museum professional to a class where he/she can talk about the importance of museums and share their knowledge of a particular masterpiece or artifact.
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Teachers can also get their students to share their experiences about a museum they have visited in the past.
- Teachers can organise an exhibition in school where they can encourage their students to create a painting, mural, etc and showcase it to the school. This way, the students will learn how a museum functions and what are the kind of artifacts that qualify to be showcased in a museum.
