Every year since 1977 International Museum (IMD) Day is held worldwide on the 18 May. The aim of the celebration is to increase public awareness of the role of museums in developing society. The dawn of the new democratic dispensation and the introduction of the National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA), No. 25 of 1999, have intensified among other things the importance to promote and conserve of our heritage for current and future generations.
The 18th of May which is International Museum Day marks an important day within
the South African calendar as it affords all citizens across all racial groupings an
opportunity to celebrate and demonstrate their own cultural heritage.
The role of museums in society changes with the times. Reconciling their traditional mission of conservation with the creativity necessary for their revival and the development of their audiences – this is the evolution that museums are trying to undertake, with the strong belief that their presence and actions can transform society constructively.
The theme for IMD 2013 is “Museums (Memory + Creativity) = Social Change”. This truly optimistic theme in the form of an equation dynamically gathers several concepts that are essential to defining what a museum is today, highlighting the universal nature of those institutions and their positive influence on society.
It summarises the complexity of museum tasks and emphasises that they are
meant to contribute to the community with their passion and creativity.
International Museum Day will be hosted as follows:
Date: Saturday, 18 May 2013
Time: 09h00
Venue: Poding Tse Rolo Stadium – Philippolis
Your media house is invited to cover the event.
Media and general enquiries:
Kgotso Tlhapi, Deputy Director: Museum Services
Cell: 083 770 9023
Tel: 051 410 48330
E-mail: tlhapig@sacr.fs.gov.za
Tankiso Zola, Director: Communication and I.T
Cell: 082 940 2392
Tel: 051 410 4742/4786/4719
E-mail: tankiso@sacr.fs.gov.za
