International Museum Day Theme: Museums as Cultural Hubs and the Future of Tradition

On 18 May 2019, the International Museum Day (IMD) takes place across the world. The role of museums in society is forever changing as they adapt to new needs, trends and demands. In a sense museums have become cultural hubs where creativity is combined with knowledge. ICOM is recognising this shift by dedicating the 2019 edition of IMD to “Museums as Cultural Hubs: The future of tradition”.

Since 1977, ICOM organizes the International Museum Day (IMD) 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.”

Each year, ICOM dedicates the IMD to a current theme. On its website, ICOM writes “As museums increasingly grow into their roles as cultural hubs, they are also finding new ways to honour their collections, their histories and their legacies, creating traditions that will have new meaning for future generations and relevance for an increasingly diverse contemporary audience at a global level. This transformation, which will have a profound impact on museum theory and practice, also forces us to rethink the value of museums and to question the ethical boundaries that define the very nature of our work as museum professionals.”

Find more information about the 2019 theme and how to participate in the IMD here.