- UK
May 18 - International Museum Day
Explore Museums Online and In Person
International Museum Day has been celebrated worldwide since 1977, when the 11th General Conference of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) established this special occasion. Since then, ICOM has selected an annual theme that reflects important societal issues. This year’s theme is “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities.”
In today’s fast-paced world, we are all learning to adapt to new realities. Museums, too, have evolved - they are no longer just guardians of cultural heritage. They now play a vital role in education, support cultural tourism, and encourage public awareness and critical thinking. Embracing technology, museums make visits more interactive and educational through tools like virtual and augmented reality, offering unforgettable experiences.
Museums are key institutions for preserving cultural identity and national values. By seeing ourselves as part of Ukraine’s unique culture, we help foster its growth and understand the deeper meaning of our nation — through science, education, the arts (including literature), morality, lifestyle, and worldview. Exhibits give us a window into the past, revealing how our ancestors’ spiritual values continue to shape our modern perspectives.
Research in the United States has also shown that visiting museums and participating in museum programs during childhood can influence future career choices and even income levels.
Celebrate International Museum Day by visiting a favorite - or discovering a new - museum. Don’t miss this chance to immerse yourself in the knowledge of generations and experience the rich national spirit that defines us Ukrainians. You can begin right now by exploring these online presentations of Kyiv museums:
· Museum of Outstanding Figures of Ukrainian Culture
https://guide.kyivcity.gov.ua/special-projects/muzey-vydatnykh-diyachiv-ukrayinskoyi-kultury
· Stolen Masterpieces from the Eastern Collection of Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko
(Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko National Museum of Arts)
· Traditional Festive Attire of the Late 19th – Early 20th Century (Ivan Honchar Museum – National Center of Folk Culture)
· Kyiv Museum Treasures
(National Museum of Ukrainian Folk Decorative Art)
https://guide.kyivcity.gov.ua/special-projects/kyyivski-muzeyni-skarby
· Mykhailo Hrushevsky’s Office on Pankivska Street, 9
https://guide.kyivcity.gov.ua/special-projects/kabinet-mykhayla-hrushevskoho-na-pankivskiy9
· Gems of the Sculpture Collection of the Kyiv Art Gallery (National Museum “Kyiv Art Gallery”)
