International Museum Day 2023

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international museum day

One of the best places to learn about nearly everything that happened in the past or has some sort of historical significance is museums. It gave us a chance to get a closer look at things we might not have otherwise had the chance to experience or see. Every year on May 18, International Museum Day is observed in order to increase awareness of the importance of museums in society as a whole. Read on to learn more about this important day, its celebration, and its origins.

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History of International Museum Day

The International Council of Museums (I.C.O.M.) organized the conference “Crusade for Museums” in 1951, and the theme of the conference was “Museums and Education.” This meeting produced the museum accessibility policy, which was the catalyst for the creation of International Museum Day. After the I.C.O.M. General Assembly passed a resolution calling for the formation of an annual celebration to further merge artistic ambitions and museum efforts designed to raise awareness of the benefits of museums to humanity, the first International Museum Day was observed in Moscow in 1977. Additionally, it promotes the idea that museums can operate as venues for promoting dialogue, social interaction, and intercultural understanding.

The group decides on a different theme each year. Since 1977, all museums worldwide have been asked to plan and take part in events to increase public awareness of the value that museums provide to society. International Museum Day has steadily gained in prominence throughout the years. The fact that more people have joined over the past 15 years attests to how important history is in helping us understand how society functioned. 

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International Museum Day Themes So Far

International Museum Day 2023 to focus on sustainability and well-being. “Museums are key contributors to the wellbeing and to the sustainable development of our communities.” 

The educational activities, exhibitions, community engagement, and research that all museums conduct can help to shape and create sustainable futures. The Sustainable Development Goals can be achieved in many different ways, from promoting inclusivity and promoting climate action to addressing social isolation and enhancing mental health.

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The main focus of 2023 will be: 

  • Goal 3: Global Health and Well-Being– Make sure everyone leads healthy lifestyles and promotes well-being, paying special attention to mental health and social isolation.
  • Goal 13: Climate Action- Actions to combat climate change and its impacts. Promoting low-carbon practices and mitigation strategies.
  • Goal 15: Life on Land- In addition to elevating the voices of indigenous leaders and bringing attention to the disappearance of biodiversity, protect, restore, and advance sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

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Here is a list of themes of the past few years:

YearTheme
2017Museums and Contested Histories: Saying the Unspeakable in Museums
2018Hyperconnected museums: New approaches, new publics
2019Museums as Cultural Hubs: the Future of Tradition
2020Museum for Equality: Diversity and Inclusion
2021The Future of Museums: Recover and Imagine

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Significance of International Museum Day 2023

The ICOM asserts that as museums are enduring, nonprofit institutions in their communities, it is crucial to recognize them. By preserving cultural artifacts and conducting historical and scientific research, they serve society and aid in its progress. In order to inform and entertain the audience, they make artifacts and information available to them. If it weren’t for the experts who study them and take care of them, museums would lose or destroy priceless works of art, historical artifacts, and items of human and animal heritage. We wouldn’t be able to see, comprehend, and interact with the numerous artifacts that chart our society’s history and progress without museums. International Museum Day serves as a reminder to support our regional museums so they can continue to educate visitors and benefit the local community at large.

How To Celebrate International Museum Day

On this day, thousands of museums engage in the events and provide free admission, workshops, performances, and educational lectures to entice people to visit museums once more. No matter where you are, make an effort to pay a visit to a nearby museum today to support the job they do. If not, you may still view all of those works of art and cultural artifacts from the comfort of your home by using the virtual tours that many international museums provide on their websites. 

  • Create a recurring gift to a museum of your choosing today. In order to stay open, museums rely on the support of their visitors. 
  • Make a note to visit them if you’re ever around and learn more about strange and obscure museums that you haven’t heard about. 
  • Every time you visit a new city, resolve to go to at least one museum there. 
  • Arrange a visit to a museum for kids so that they can learn more about the past.

FAQs

Ques: Who started International Museum Day?

Ans: International Museum Day was established in 1977 by the International Council of Museums (ICOM). Every year, the organization plans a different theme for the day.

Ques: How many countries celebrate International Museum Day?

Ans: More than 150 countries celebrate International Museum Day every year since its inception.

Ques: Who discovered the first museum?

Ans: Archaeologist Leonard Woolley made an intriguing find of artifacts in 1925 while working on a palace in Babylon. They were from numerous various eras and locations, but they were nonetheless orderly arranged and even named. Woolley had found the first museum ever.

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