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Our past is always special for us. It gives a memory, a feeling of existence. The hurdles we faced to reach here, the culture we inherited, the traditions we followed, the mistakes we committed, the innovations and inventions we found to lead life of today can be analysed with the knowledge of our past and can be proud of that. So, history is always important and special for us. What about the remanence of the history? Its not in our mind always some are materials that are kept very specially for the future generation to see and be proud of that. Here comes the importance of the museums in our life. Museums are special keys and doors to our past and future as well. The museums of different countries are headed by different department. In India it is working under the Ministry of culture government of India. But all over the world the International Council for Museums (ICOM) is hosting the International Museum Day (IMD) on May 18th every year. Every year they celebrate the International Museum Day very prominently by allocating a theme for every year’s museum day celebration. Let us look into the particulars theme significance of the International Museum Day 2023
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International Council for Museums (ICOM) and International Museum Day (IMD)
International Council for Museums is an international organization of museums and museum professionals which are entitled to research conservation continuation and communication to society of the world’s natural and cultural heritage, present and future, tangible and intangible. When we look back into the history of the formation of the ICOM, it is created in the period of 1946-47 in a conference took place in Paris and Chancey J Hamlin has been made as the president of the council for the first time. It took a long period, like 1977 for the council to grow and spread towards every possible country. In 1977 the council expanded their work and initiatives even in the developing countries. Today the ICOM consists of 44,386 professionals spread across 138 countries with 118 national committees and 32 international committees.
ICOM organized its first ever International Museum Day (IDM) with a view to represent the unique moment for the international museum community. Many professionals and museum organizations plan and conduct various programs on this day of IDM across several countries. The main objective of the International Museum Day is to make the people and world aware about the undetected fact that “museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples”. On the International Museum Day various programs are conducted all across the world, but in 2020 amidst of the pandemic the situation the programs conducted were only in digital format. Let us look into the theme significance of the 2022 International Museum Day May 18.
International Museum day 2023: Theme and Significance
This year 2023 May 18, the International Museum Day has taken a theme of “The Power of Museums”. The international council for Museums has released the poster and banner for the celebration of the International Museum day. The last year programs were conducted in digital mode and unfortunately this year also the programs will be conducted in digital mode as the unprecedented situation caused by the pandemic still hunts everyone across the world. The council has released the communication kit which consists of every information regarding the conduct and celebration of the international museum day. The poster and banner are designed in such a way that every regional organisation is able to customise their poster with their logo and information a well. Besides this, the council has released the reading list regard to the International Museum Day. The official website for the IMD hosted by the ICOM provides an interactive map where we can find the programs and event at any country conducted as part of the International Museum Day 2023.
The International Museum Day Previous Year’s Theme
Year | Theme |
2021 | The Future of Museums: Recover and Imagine |
2020 | Museums for Equality: Diversity and Inclusion |
2019 | Museums as Cultural Hubs: The Future of Tradition |
2018 | Hyperconnected museum: New approaches, new publics |
2017 | Museums and Contested Histories: Saying the unspeakable in museums |
2016 | Museums and Cultural Landscapes |
2015 | Museums for a Sustainable Society |
2014 | Museum collections make connections |
2013 | Museums (memory + creativity = social change) |
2012 | Museums in a changing world. New challenges, new inspirations |
2011 | Museum and memory |
2010 | Museums for social harmony |
2009 | Museums and tourism |
2008 | Museums as agents of social change and development |
2007 | Museums and universal heritage |
2006 | Museums and young people |
2005 | Museums bridging cultures |
2004 | Museums and intangible heritage (Intangible cultural heritage) |
2003 | Museums and friends |
2002 | Museums and globalisation |
2001 | Museums: building community |
2000 | Museums for peace and harmony in society |
1999 | Pleasures of discovery |
1998,1997 | The fight against illicit traffic of cultural property |
1996 | Collecting today for tomorrow |
1995 | Response and responsibility |
1994 | Behind the scenes in museums |
1993 | Museums and indigenous peoples |
1992 | Museums and environment |
Conclusion
The museums may be different feeling to be different people. Some may feel it as a sense of pride about their past future. Some may feel sorry for the mistakes their ancestors had done to others. Some may feel inspired for the oppressions and marginalisation their ancestors have experienced for the better future. And for some it is a relaxing area to spend some time with friends, loving ones and family. For a competitive exam aspirant, he should feel responsible to understand regarding the museums and International council for Museums and the International Museum Day its hosts on May 18 every year. This will account to the general awareness section that they need to produce in the near future. Enrol Entri to get all the latest updates in the General Knowledge and gain success. Keep studying keep winning