|
14-05-2021 13:55 |
|
The Department of Antiquities,
Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works and the Cyprus National
Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), announces that within the framework of International Museum Day, 2021
(18th May), under the theme “The Future of Museums: Recover and
Reimagine”, and the European Night of Museums, numerous events [Greek loads first, followed by events in English] will be organized, most of which with free
entrance. The objective of the International Museum Day is to raise awareness of the fact that museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples. The year 2020 has been
like no other. The COVID-19 crisis has swept the whole world abruptly,
affecting every aspect of people’s lives, from the interactions with our
loved ones, to the way we perceive our homes and cities, to our work and its
organisation. Some already pressing issues have been exacerbated, questioning
the very structure of our societies: the call for equality is stronger than
ever. Museums are no
exception to these changes, and the cultural sector is among the most
affected, with serious economic, social and psychological repercussions in
the short and long term alike. But this crisis also served as a catalyst for
crucial innovations that were already underway, notably an increased focus on
digitisation and the creation of new forms of cultural experience and
dissemination. This is a pivotal
moment for our society, and museums are called to embrace it and lead the
change. The time is now to rethink their relationship with the communities
they serve, to experiment with new models of cultural fruition and to
strongly reaffirm the essential value of museums for the construction of a
just and sustainable future. We must advocate for the creative potential of
culture as a driver for recovery and innovation in the post-COVID era. Organised on and around the
18th of May each year, International Museum Day celebrations can last a day,
a weekend, a week or an entire month. Participation in the International
Museum Day is growing internationally. Over the past years, more than 36,000
Museums participated in the celebrations, in around 157 countries. The public can download the
program of events from the Department of Antiquities’ website (www.mcw.gov.cy/da) and social media (Facebook and
Instagram), as well as from the websites and social media of the
participating museums. (EK/SCH) |
