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It's time to celebrate the world's culture and heritage on International Museum Day on May 18! This day was created in 1977 as a way to emphasize the importance of museums in our society, and to allow people from all over the world to experience different cultures, histories, and art. It is celebrated annually in more than 120 countries with events such as museum tours and educational talks. So whether you're visiting your local museum or planning a trip abroad, make sure you take advantage of this special day and explore the world through the lens of a museum!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1977</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Establishment of Holiday</div><div class='timeline-text'>The International Council of Museums (ICOM) established International Museum Day to raise awareness about the importance of museums.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1983</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Theme Injection</div><div class='timeline-text'>The ICOM begins the tradition of providing a theme for each year's celebration, with this year's being "Museum and Society".</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1992</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Growing Participation</div><div class='timeline-text'>Over 70 countries participated in the International Museum Day, showcasing the increasing popularity of the event globally.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2009</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Online Presence</div><div class='timeline-text'>The official website for International Museum Day was launched, expanding the reach of the celebration through digital platforms.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2011</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Record High</div><div class='timeline-text'>A record-breaking 30,000 museums from over 120 countries participated in the event, marking a high point in the holiday's history.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2020</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Digital Celebrations</div><div class='timeline-text'>Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, many celebrations moved online, emphasizing virtual tours and digital exhibits.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Visit a museum</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Visit your local museum and learn something new. Museums are full of fascinating history, art, and culture, so find out what's happening in your area and make a day of it.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Organize a museum tour</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Choose a city or region and organize a museum tour for yourself and your friends. You'll get to explore different museums and discover more about the culture and history of the area.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Plan a museum scavenger hunt</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Plan a scavenger hunt at your local museum. Create clues that lead to different exhibits, artifacts, or paintings, as well as fun tasks or challenges that can be completed while in the museum. It's sure to be an exciting and interesting day.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Attend an art lecture</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Many museums offer lectures on various topics related to their collections. Attend one of these lectures to learn more about the art and history of the area, and maybe even meet some interesting people.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Volunteer at a museum</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Volunteer your time at a local museum and help out with daily operations or special projects. You'll get to meet new people and have an up close look at all the museum has to offer.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Museums promote education</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Museums are a great way to learn more about different cultures, histories and artifacts. They play an important role in preserving the past and fostering cultural appreciation. Visiting museums can help foster a better understanding of our world, both present and past.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Museums provide job opportunities</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Not only do museums host educational initiatives for people of all ages, but they also provide employment opportunities for professionals in the field. From curators and conservators to archivists and educators, museums employ professionals from many different backgrounds.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Museums inspire creativity</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Exploring museums can be an inspiring experience for all sorts of thinkers. From those who appreciate art and culture to those who relish in technological innovation, visiting a museum can spark new ideas and unleash creative potential. International Museum Day is an important global event that celebrates the role that museums play in society.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The Louvre is the World's Most-Visited Museum</h3><p class='facts-content'>Located in Paris, France, The Louvre was the most visited museum in the world, pre-pandemic, attracting millions of visitors every year to see its extensive art and history collections, including the iconic Mona Lisa painting.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The Smithsonian Institution is the World's Largest Museum and Research Complex</h3><p class='facts-content'>The Smithsonian Institution consists of 19 museums, a zoo, and nine research facilities, making it the largest museum complex in the world. It holds over 154 million artifacts and specimens.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The First Public Museums Opened in the 17th Century</h3><p class='facts-content'>Though collections of art and rare items existed before, the concept of public museums - open for society's benefit and education - didn't come into existence until the 17th Century.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>There are Dedicated Museums for Almost Everything</h3><p class='facts-content'>In addition to art and history, museums span the spectrum of topics and interests, from UFOs and paranormal activity to mustard and bananas, there's a museum for nearly every possible interest out there.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Virtual Reality is Changing the Way We Visit Museums</h3><p class='facts-content'>The use of emerging technologies, like Virtual and Augmented Reality, are changing the way we can experience museums. VR/AR can take museum-goers on tours of inaccessible locations, or breathe life into extinct creatures or ancient civilizations.</p></div></div>
International Museum Day is celebrated on May 18 every year. In 2024, International Museum Day will occur on a Saturday.
2023
May 18
Thursday
2024
May 18
Saturday
2025
May 18
Sunday
2026
May 18
Monday
2027
May 18
Tuesday
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