International Museum Day is celebrated every year on May 18. The day is celebrated by taking part in activities based on the theme decided by the International Council of Museum (ICOM) every year.
The day aims to raise awareness about the value of museums as means of important cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures, and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.
The annual observance of International Museum Day is coordinated by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) since 1977. The day also marks a unique moment for the international museum community.
History:
International Museum Day was established in 1977 with the adoption of a resolution. The resolution was adopted at the ICOM General Assembly held in Moscow, Russia. The day was designated to ‘further unify the creative aspirations and efforts of museums and draw the attention of the world public to their activity’.
Significance:
The day holds a lot of significance as it aims to generate awareness about the important role that museums play in community building, national and international cooperation as well as cultural exchange.
Theme:
Each year, the International Council of Museums come up with a new theme to celebrate the day. The theme for this year’s International Museum Day is “The Power of Museums”.
