International Museum Day Around the World

Every year since 1977, ICOM has organised International Museum Day (IMD), which represents a unique moment for the international museum community. On this day, participating museums plan creative events and activities related to the International Museum Day theme, engage with their public and highlight the importance of the role of museums as institutions that serve society and its development. International Museum Day 2019 will focus on the new roles of museums as active actors in their communities “Museums as Cultural Hubs: The future of tradition”.

To celebrate IMD 2019, thousands of museums around the world are organising special activities or will offer extended opening hours. Here are some of the events planned for May 18:

• The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum is inviting high school teachers and students for a day of “Fun with Museums” to learn more about museum professions
• The Children’s Museum of Thessaloniki will organise an interactive program around transport planning, underground construction and & ultra-modern operation of the metro
• What’s the future of plastic? Join the Bloomfield Science Museum in Jerusalem to learn about the history of this material and to rethink its produce, use and disposal
• For International Museum Day, the National Museum of Tajikistan will organise a night at the museum
• In Tokyo, several of the capital’s museums – including the Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum of Nature and Science, the National Museum of Western Art – will have free admission
• In Miselerland, Luxembourg, a double-decker bus will do a museum hopping tour through the museums of the region (on May 19)
• The Grantown Museum & Heritage Trust will celebrate #IMD2019 with the exhibition “Contemporary Design in Linen & Flax” telling local stories of its rich industrial heritage with a focus on material innovation

Have you already planned a special event or programme for International Museum Day, like many other cultural institutions around the globe? Add yours to ICOM’s new interactive map for the whole world to see. Have a look on the new interactive map on WeMap.

To participate, all you have to do is complete the following form on OpenAgenda.

For more information: http://imd.icom.museum or imd@icom.museum

The objective of International Museum Day is to raise awareness of the fact that museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples. IMD2019 will tackle the same theme as the ICOM General Conference Kyoto 2019 (1-7 September) and kick off the global conversation on the role  of museums as cultural hubs and the future of tradition.