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International Museum Day: Here’s how you can tour your favourite museums
Since 1977, 18 May has been set aside to bring the international museums community together.
Image via Adobe Stock
Museums are rich with historical and cultural information and are paramount to the development of mutual understanding. Last year, over 37,000 museums in 158 countries participated in International Museum Day.
International Museum Day 2020
The theme for 2020’s Museum Day is “Museums for Equality: Diversity and Inclusion.” The aim is to use cultural institutions as a safe haven for diversity and inclusivity. Coordinated by the International Councils of Museums, it is a free and fun way of raising awareness and promoting the role that museums play in society.
Three museums you can tour online this Museum Day
British Museum, London
The virtual museum tour is coordinated by Google Street View. Officially opened to the public in 1759, its exhibition highlights include; The Rosetta Stone (the key to unlocking Egyptian Hieroglyphics), cat mummies from ancient Egypt, and the Portland Vase, which is presumed to be a wedding gift found in Rome passed down to British nobles until it was donated to the museum.
Take the tour here: britishmuseum.withgoogle.com
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C
The Smithsonain is the world’s largest research and museum complex, boasting 19 museums and galleries with over 137 million objects depicting American history. Things to see at this museum include; Harriet Tubman’s shawl, a nod to World War 2, The Hall of Remembrance and Abraham Lincoln’s top hat, to name a few objects that are on display.
Take a walk through history: naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour
Zeitz MOCCA, Cape Town
Based in Cape Town, the world’s largest museum for contemporary art in Africa has created an audio tour for an exhibition that was put on hold due to the pandemic. The exhibition is titled, “Two Together” and explores the idea of a pair; two objects. Commentary is made by the museum’s senior curator, Storm Janse van Rensburg.
Listen to the audio tour here: soundcloud.com/zeitzmocaa/sets/two-together
Be part of history and take the virtual tours with friends and family.
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