Our rich heritage, which museums both display and protect, is associated with inventiveness and vitality, both of which have characterized the museum sector in recent years and are museums’ greatest strengths. This year, the theme of the International Museum Day will be Museums (memory + creativity) = social change.
ICOM General Director, Julien Anfruns adds: “Reconciling their traditional mission of preservation with cultivation of the creativity necessary for renewal and visitor growth is the evolution that museums are striving for, with the firm conviction that their presence and their actions can change society in a constructive manner.”
Among the many museums participating in this activity, we highlight:
- Reina Sofía Museum, (Madrid) with a workshop inspired by Dalí, performances and a theater plays.
- Prado National Museum (Madrid), free admission with educational tours, family passes and extraordinary conference.
- Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (Madrid), free admission to the exhibition Monet and Abstraction, and to the Permanent Collection.
The International Council of Museums (ICOM) established International Museum Day in 1977 to increase public awareness of the role of museums in the development of society. Momentum has been rising unabated ever since. In 2012, International Museum Day garnered record-breaking participation with almost 32,000 museums hosting events in more than 129 countries.
