On the next 18th of May Celebrate the International Museum Day 2019

On 18 May, Portuguese museums will be commemorating International Museum Day and Nightof Museums with a varied programme of activities throughout the day that are well worth taking advantage of.

The theme proposed for reflection in 2019 is “Museums as Cultural Platforms – Museums´and Citizenship”. The idea is to draw attention to the importance of the global reach of museums as part of a worldwide network of knowledge, and to the importance of museums as focal points of the communities to which they belong.

In a society subject to constant change, museums are cultural platforms which, in addition to their mission of collecting, preserving, communicating, researching and exhibiting, should offer visitors the chance to create, share and interact. One way or another, they have become a reflection of the local needs and opinions of the people for a global context.

On Museum Day, which this year falls on a Saturday, a great many activities will be organized. They include guided tours, historical re-enactments, performances and shows which will be extended into the Night of Museums, to provide a visit experience with a difference, outside the usual hours.

Check the full programme at:
- http://w3.patrimoniocultural.pt/museus2019/public/
- www.facebook.com/Dia.Internacional.dos.Museus

- https://www.visitportugal.com/International Museum Day and Night
- https://icom.museum/en/activities/events/international-museum-day/

Visit a museum on 18 May and celebrate International Museum Day

This Day, 18th of May, promoted by  ICOM - The International Council of Museums, is marked in Portugal with a great many initiatives and activities designed to raise awareness about museums in a different way from usual.

On this day, when admission is free and the opening hours are extended, take time to discover and learn about areas that are normally restricted. Join in a guided tour, take part in a workshop, atelier, theatre or dance show, performances among many other activities that invite you to come and enjoy a different experience.

On 19 May,  continue to celebrate during European Museum Night, an initiative that many museums are involved in as they open their doors to visitors  outside of normal hours.

This year the programme has been organised with the challenge set by ICOM in mind, the theme being "Hyperconnected Museums: New Approaches, New Publics." The aim is to respond to the interest museums have in strengthening their link with different sectors of the public, either by publicising their collections or by making people aware of the safeguarding and enhancement of cultural heritage by inviting them to participate in the events that museums organise.

Find more information about at:
- http://www.patrimoniocultural.gov.pt/dia-internacional-dos-museus-e-noite-dos-museus-programa/
- http://w3.patrimoniocultural.pt/International Museum Day
- https://www.facebook.com/Dia.Internacional.dos.Museus/

International Museum Day 2017: 18th and 20th of May

On the 18th and 20th of May Portugal will be joining in the commemorations for International Museum Day and Museums at Night, along with many other countries around the world.

The theme chosen for this year is “Museums and contested histories: Saying the unspeakable in museums”. As usual it invites us to think about the role of museums in local communities and society in general. Are museums places that harbour controversial stories? Will communities of professionals, scholars and friends of museums be ready and willing to tackle issues that are socially contentious? And can the approach to these themes contribute to the greater participation and importance of museums in the community?

These issues have inspired the organisation of many activities in museum spaces across the country, targeting a variety of interests and very different audiences and inviting people to visit museums on the 18th of May, and on the 20th, the Night of Museums. It will be a unique opportunity to see the exhibitions outside the usual hours. Visitors will also be amazed by theatre and dance performances, musical and other performances, guided and staged tours, and many other interesting cultural experiences.



Check the programme of activities at http://w3.patrimoniocultural.pt/museus2017 and follow the news as it is being announced on the International Museum Day Facebook - www.facebook.com/Dia.Internacional.dos.Museus.