Every year on 18 May International Museum Day is observed to raise awareness among people about the museums as an important means of cultural exchange and development of mutual understanding, cooperation, and peace among people. The International Council of Museums (ICOM) organizes an event annually on this day.
On International Museum Day, which is celebrated on 18 May, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) across the country allows free entry to the general public in the museums. Around 46 museums are managed by ASI out of them are Archaeological Museum in Purana Qila, Swatantrata Sangram Sanghralaya, Swatantrata Senani Museum, Indian War Memorial Museum in Red Fort in Delhi, etc. In fact, Pahari paintings will also be displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There will be a week-long event to mark International Museum Day in 13 cities. This day also focuses on how important museums are in the development of society. Every year the International Council of Museums (ICOM) Advisory Committee organized the theme of this event and celebrated it accordingly in various countries. Let us tell you that this event may last a day, a weekend, a week, or even a month. International Museum Day has gained popularity from America to Oceania, including Africa, Europe, and Asia all around the world.
History of Museum Day
The International Council of Museums (ICOM) created International Museum Day in 1977. The organization chooses a different theme for the day and coordinates every year. Some of the themes include globalization, indigenous peoples, bridging cultural gaps, and caring for the environment. 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 2009 being participated in by 20,000 museums in over 90 countries. In 2012, the number of participating museums jumped to 30,000 in 129 countries.
As the years have gone by, we have been blessed to live in a society where while technology seems to want to take over, there have been certain things that are now considered cool that were once reserved for a very target demographic. While the numbers of participants were slowly climbing almost a decade ago, over the last five years, the numbers are climbing at an even more rapid rate. When we look at this, we may ask ourselves why, and the truth is simple, history is now something that is classed as cool. Yes, we may live in a technology-driven society, but it seems that the more technology has reigned over the world, people have started to gravitate toward the things that connect them to a world they are scared of losing. Today, there are more visitors to museums all over the world than ever before, and more than this, there are now more people studying history at a degree level than at any point in history. Now, it may be possible that this is just a point where geek chic is in, and students want to seem more cultural and in touch with the world, but if we stop for a brief moment, could it not be possible that Museum Day has played a small role in helping entire new generations fall in love with history once again.
The truth may, in fact, be both, but one thing we must remember is that While it may not be as popular as some days, Museum Day is something that should be held in high importance. The further we move forward, the more we leave behind, and with all of the things that are now long behind us, we need something to help us remember where we have been, that way, we can take the journey ahead of us with more confidence. The truth may, in fact, be both, but one thing we must remember is that While it may not be as popular as some days, Museum Day is something that should be held in high importance. The further we move forward, the more we leave behind, and with all of the things that are now long behind us, we need something to help us remember where we have been, that way, we can take the journey ahead of us with more confidence.
How to celebrate Museum Day
There is no better way to celebrate Museum Day than to take a trip down to a nearby museum, either alone, with friends, or even with your children if you feel they are old enough to appreciate the place. Depending on where you live, the museums you might be closest to could be ones connected with anything from farming to fashion, from astronomy to archaeology, and from art to natural history. If it turns out that the museums in your immediate area are not ones that would interest you, maybe you could consider a day trip to a nearby city to visit a museum better suited to your interests? Carpooling with a friend or two will make the trip cheaper and very possibly more interesting. Another thing to think about is how well you tolerate crowds. 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, especially since many museums do not charge an entrance fee then. If you do not feel like standing in long lines to see every single thing or having to maneuver your way through crowds of people, paying more attention to not stepping on anyone’s shoes than the objects on exhibition, you may want to visit the museum of your choice a few days before or after Museum Day. On weekdays, museums are often quiet places where one can come to study our ancestors’ lifestyles and contemplate what motivated them to behave and develop as they did. However you decide to celebrate Museum day, don’t let this opportunity to find out about the history of the human race go to waste!
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