International Museum Day – May 18
On May 18, International Museum Day is celebrated. It was established in 1977 on the recommendation of the International Council of Museums (ICOM).
Since then, it has been celebrated every year around the world with the aim of presenting museums as public institutions and showcasing achievements from the previous period.
Each year, ICOM’s Advisory Committee proposes a theme for International Museum Day. This shared theme enables museums around the world to focus on the same content in May, so that the messages of the museum community are as present and visible to the public as possible.
This is also supported by ongoing recommendations for marking the day, aimed at attracting visitors to museums. One of the main recommendations is free admission to all museums, as well as organizing various events such as promotional campaigns, exhibition openings, openings of new museum spaces, extended opening hours, concerts and various programs intended for all ages, families and persons with disabilities.
This year’s International Museum Day theme is “Museums and Contested Histories: Saying the Unspeakable in Museums”.
For the 22nd year in a row, the Section for Museum Pedagogy and Cultural Action of the Croatian Museum Association is also successfully participating in International Museum Day by organizing educational museum campaigns under a shared theme connected to ICOM’s theme for that year.
The theme of the 22nd Educational Museum Campaign is “Secrets”. This joint museum education program lasts from April 25 to May 18 and is primarily intended for family visits.
The program includes interesting, specially prepared educational activities, exhibitions, workshops, playrooms, expert lectures, prize games and many other events.
At the Croatian Natural History Museum, as part of the joint educational program 22nd EMA – Educational Museum Campaign – Secrets, the program “The Secret of the Natural History Suitcase” has been organized.
Program on May 18 – International Museum Day
17:00 – 19:00 Educational and creative workshops Secrets of the Natural History Museum – exploring museum displays and exhibitions.
Workshop Life Without Light – a look into the world of mysterious caves and their shy inhabitants.