A museum is a building or institution that gathers and displays a collection of artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance. Most public museums make these items available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary.
These museums have the power to transform the world around us with the display of artifacts and the historiesbehind them. Museums teach us about our past and open our minds to new ideas for the future.
Every museum collection from primeval spears to Egyptian mummies, from ancient Greek sculptures to medieval armor, and from the first radio to the first planes used in war during WWI, has a story to tell. Sadly, there are millions of people who have access to museums, but have never visited one, hence, the need for the International Museum Day (IMD).
This day was set aside not just to celebrate museums but to also raise awareness about the fact that, “Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.”
The International Museum Day holds around 18th May each year with activities lasting for a day, a weekend or an entire week. All around the world, more and more museums participate in International Museum Day and this has brought about museum education in its most fascinating form.
Origin of the International Museum Day
In 1977, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) came up with an idea to raise awareness for museums and their importance. Every year, the International Council of Museums come up with different themes for each year.Some of the themes include globalization, indigenous peoples, bridging cultural gaps, and caring for the environment. The 2022 edition had as its theme “The Future of Museums: Recover and Imagine”. The aim of these themes is to create and drive awareness on museums and museum related issues.
Every year since 1977, all of the museums in the world are invited to participate in this day to promote the role of museums around the world, by organizing enjoyable and free activities around the year’s theme.
International Museum Day has become steadily more popular since its creation, with International Museum Day being participated by various museums over the globe.
How You can Join in Celebrating the International Museum Day
There is no better way to celebrate International Museum Day than to take a trip down to a nearby museum, either alone, with friends, or even with your children and explore every artifact while grasping the knowledge behind them.
International Museum Day is an increasingly popular worldwide event, so it is quite probable that many of the larger and better-known museums will be pretty crowded on this day, giving you the opportunity to meet with other museum lovers and interact with them as well.
The truth is, education is important, so days like International Museum Day should be something to get yourself and your young ones excited about.
The International Museum Day gives you an opportunity to fill your children with knowledge goodness. However you decide to celebrate the day, don’t let this opportunity to find out about the history of the human race go to waste.