International Museum Day 2016: Preparations Underway

Every year since 1977, the International Museum Day is organised worldwide around May 18. The objective of 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 international network of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) proposes an annual theme, which inspires the activities organised by museums around the world - over 35,000 museums in approximately 145 countries have taken part in recent years. In 2016, the event will celebrate the theme "Museums and Cultural Landscapes". The theme makes museums responsible for their landscapes, asking them to contribute knowledge and expertise and take an active role in their management and upkeep. The primary mission of museums is to oversee heritage, whether it be inside or outside their walls. Their natural vocation is to expand their mission and implement their own activities in the open field of cultural landscape and heritage that surrounds them and for which they can assume varying degrees of responsibility. By highlighting the link between museums and cultural heritage, the International Museum Day 2016 aims to enhance the idea of museums as territorial centres involved in actively protecting the cultural landscape. In this context, ICOM is inviting museums to organise activities around the theme "Museums and Cultural Landscapes", as well as to establish partnerships with schools, associations and other museums; disseminate online and offline information about International Museum Day 2016; and carry out other communication activities. For additional information about International Museum Day 2016, please visit http://network.icom.museum/international-museum-day/imd-2016/the-theme/