International Museum Day (IMD) is annually observed across the globe on 18th May to create awareness about the Museums which are important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.
The day is annually organised by the International Council of Museums(ICOM) since 1977.
- The theme of International Museum Day 2022 is “The Power of Museum”.
Background:
i.In 1977, The International Council of Museums (ICOM) established International Museum Day(IMD) with the adoption of a resolution during the ICOM General Assembly in Moscow, Russia.
ii.The day was established to create awareness about the role of museums in the development of society.
Note:
i.Prior to the creation of the IMD, the ICOM gathered the international museum community for a 1951 meeting called Crusade for Museums, to discuss the theme “Museums and Education.”
ii.The framework for museum accessibility developed at this meeting inspired the idea of IMD.
Objective of IMD 2022:
IMD 2022 focuses to explore the potential of museums to bring about positive change in their communities through three lenses:
- The power of achieving sustainability.
- The power of innovating on digitalisation and accessibility.
- The power of community building through education.
Events in India:
On the occasion of International Museum Day (IMD), the Ministry of Culture, Government of India(GoI) has organised a week-long celebration across its Museums from 16th May to 20th May 2022.
The National Museum, New Delhi; National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru; Allahabad Museum, Prayagraj; Indian Museum, Kolkata; Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata; Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad; and Science cities and centres under National Council of Science Museums in 24 locations across India are undertaking special initiatives throughout the designated week.
- A webinar titled ‘Museology as a Profession: Challenges and prospects will also be held on the occasion of IMD 2022, by the National Museum Institute.
- The Ministry of Culture is set to announce the launch of ‘Museum’ – a hackathon with museum-centric problem statements; and a ‘Museums in India’ mobile app containing a digital repository of their collections.
- This is in line with the Ministry’s renewed mandate of “Reimagining Museums in India”.
Key Points:
i.The week-long celebration at the National Museum New Delhi includes a Teachers’ Training Workshop in collaboration with CCRT Dwarka, Mata Sundari College, Delhi and the Indian Culture portal.
ii.The Museum will also organise a one-day Museum Educators’ meet in collaboration with the Heritage Lab, Flow India, Access for All and Heritage.
iii.The National Museum will be open for extended opening hours on the 18th, 19th and 20th of May from 10 AM to 9 PM.
iv.The National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi is organizing a host of educational activities and programs under the theme of ‘Power of Museums’
v.On 18th May 2022, G. Kishan Reddy Minister of Culture inaugurated the 2 seminal exhibitions focusing on the modern masters of Indian art titled, Hastantaran and Kshetragya.
vi.An exhibition titled ‘Brasilia and the construction of Modern Brazil’, under the auspices of the cultural exchange program between India and Brazil was inaugurated in the presence of Petroleum and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Minister of State for Culture Meenakshi Lekhi.
About International Council of Museums(ICOM):
President– Alberto Garlandini (Italy)
Director-General– Peter Keller
Headquarters– Paris, France
