23 May 2015
Bahrain Celebrates International Museum Day on 23 May
Our rich heritage, which museums both display and protect, is associated with inventiveness and vitality, both of which have characterized the museum sector in recent years and are museums’ greatest strengths. The International Council of Museums (ICOM) established International Museum Day in 1977 to increase public awareness of the role of museums in the development of society. Momentum has been rising unabated ever since. In 2012, ‘International Museum Day’ garnered record-breaking participation with almost 32,000 museums hosting events in more than 129 countries. The kingdom of Bahrain celebrated with the rest of the world ‘International Museum Day’ and Bahrain’s Authority for Culture & Antiquities organized an open day for museums’ lovers to discover the hidden treasures of the ancient glorious past this Saturday, 23 May, 2015.
The day celebrated with a free entry to all Bahraini museums, including the Bahrain National Museum, which organized free boat trips to the Pearling Heritage Trail Visitor Center at Abu Maher Fort, a World Heritage UNESCO List since 2012. Lovers of history and museums also had free entry day to Qal'at al Bahrain (Bahrain Fort), an ancient harbor and capital of Dilmun, featuring on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2005; discover artifacts and data which stem from the 4000 year ancient civilization of Dilmun. On this occasion, Sh. Salman bin Ahmad Al Fateh Fort Museum willalso joined the international community to draw awareness to the important role of museums in the development of society.
The public certainly enjoyed the many historical, educational, and art exhibitions being showcased now throughout Bahrain’s museums; such as the American temporary ‘Kalila and Dimna: Fables across Time’ exhibition and ‘Sicily of the Leopard’ exhibition at the Bahrain National Museum. For those interested in discovering ancient Bahraini history, the Bahrain Fort Museum organized a series of shows as part of ‘Bahrain Through Times’ exhibition.
Also parents were invited to bring thier kinds for a day of fun and creative activities (storytelling, dress up, crafts and face painting) and complement thier visit with a tea break at Darseen Cafe which offered a new menu and a variety of delicacies crafted especially in celebration of ‘International Museum Day’.
The kingdom of Bahrain has been celebrating this special international day since 2008 by organizing a number of activities and events to raise public awareness about the role of museums in local society and worldwide as well as the need to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of the country.
The International Council of Museums (ICOM) established ‘International Museum Day’ in 1977 to increase public awareness of the role of museums in the development of society. 2015’s theme for the event will be ‘Museums for a Sustainable Society’. It highlights the role of museums in raising public awareness about the need for a society that is less wasteful, more cooperative, and that uses resources in a way that respects living systems. Indeed, museums, as educators and cultural mediators, are adopting an increasingly vital role in contributing to the definition and implementation of sustainable development and practices. Museums must be able to guarantee their role in safeguarding cultural heritage, given the increasing precariousness of ecosystems, situations of political instability, and the associated natural and man‐made challenges that may arise. Museum work, through education and exhibitions for example, should strive to create a sustainable society.
