ISLAMABAD: International Museum Day would be observed across the globe, including Pakistan, on May 18.
The worldwide community of museums will celebrate theday in a befitting manner. The National History and Literary Heritage Division, Department of Archeology and Museum, Lok Virsa and museums across all four provinces would arrange special ceremonies to observe the day. For an hour, a night or an entire week, participants are free to mark this unifying, universal occasion as they see fit, which turns 38 this year.
In 2016, the theme of the International Museum Day will be“Museums and Cultural Landscapes”. The International Council of Museums, in its general conference to be held on July 3-9,will hold debates on the theme, which implies that museums have a certain responsibility towards the landscapes where they are located, and to which they areable to bring their own specific knowledge and skills.
Museums oversee safekeeping and protection of the heritage that lies both within and beyond theirwalls. In the Siena Charter, the cultural landscape is proposed as“the country where we live, which surrounds us with the images and symbols that identify and characterise it”.
According to this vision, the landscape is considered as the context – geographic, historical, economic, social and cultural – in which museums exist and operate.
The International Council of Museums (ICOM) established International Museum Day in 1977 to increase public awareness of therole of museums in the development of society.
This initiative has proven successful, according to ICOM President Hans-Martin Hinz, who said: “Museum visitors should learn about the past and enjoy the diversity of cultures.”
The event benefits from growing popularity and in 2015, gathered more than 35,000 museums which organised celebrations in some 145 countries in five continents.
