May 18: International Museum Day

The International Museum Day is observed on May 18 across the world to raise awareness on how important museums are in the development of society. The 2018 theme was ‘Museums and Hyper Communication – New Approaches and New Public‘.

Significance of theme

Hyperconnectivity term was invented in 2001 to design multiple means of communication, such as face-to-face contact, email, instant messaging, telephone or Internet. This global network of connections is becoming more complex day by day, diverse and integrated. In the hyperconnected world, museums join this trend being inherent part of their local communities, their cultural landscape and their natural environment.

Background

International Museum Day was instituted in 1977 by International Council of Museums (ICOM). The objective of day is to raise awareness of museums as an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.

International Council of Museum (ICOM)

It is the main and only organisation of museums and museum professionals with global scope, committed to promotion and protection of natural and cultural heritage, present and future, tangible and intangible. It was created in 1946 and is headquartered in Paris, France. It serves as a network of museum professionals (35,000 members in 137 countries) acting in wide range of museum- and heritage-related disciplines.

Month: Current Affairs - May, 2018