CYPRUS: EUROPEAN NIGHT OF MUSEUMS 2021
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY AND THE EUROPEAN NIGHT OF MUSEUMS, 2021
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works and the Cyprus National Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), announce that, within the framework of International Museum Day, 2021 (18th May), under the theme “The Future of Museums: Recover and Reimagine”, and the European Night of Museums, numerous events will be organized, most with free entrance.
The objective of International Museum Day is 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.
The year 2020 has been like no other. The COVID-19 crisis has swept the whole world abruptly, affecting every aspect of people’s lives, from the interactions with our loved ones, to the way we perceive our homes and cities, to our work and its organisation. Some already pressing issues have been exacerbated, questioning the very structure of our societies: the call for equality is stronger than ever.
Museums are no exception to these changes, and the cultural sector is among the most affected, with serious economic, social and psychological repercussions in the short and long term alike. But this crisis also served as a catalyst for crucial innovations that were already underway, notably an increased focus on digitisation and the creation of new forms of cultural experience and dissemination.
This is a pivotal moment for our society, and museums are called to embrace it and lead the change. The time is now to rethink their relationship with the communities they serve, to experiment with new models of cultural fruition and to strongly reaffirm the essential value of museums for the construction of a just and sustainable future. We must advocate for the creative potential of culture as a driver for recovery and innovation in the post-COVID era.
Organised on and around the 18th of May each year, International Museum Day celebrations can last a day, a weekend, a week or an entire month. Participation in International Museum Day is growing internationally. Over the past years, more than 36,000 Museums participated in the celebrations, in around 157 countries.
The public can download the program of events from the Department of Antiquities’ website (www.mcw.gov.cy/da) and social media (Facebook and Instagram), as well as from the websites and social media of the participating museums.
