International Museum Day

Pretoria Art Museum, Melrose House Museum and Fort Klapperkop Heritage Site
18 to 21 May 2010

International Museum Day is an initiative of the International Council for Museums (ICOM). The day has been celebrated all over the world on 18 May since 1977. In 1992, the Advisory Committee decided to suggest a theme for Museum Day each year, and this year's theme is Museums for social harmony.

ICOM invites museum professionals to use International Museum Day as a platform for promoting the work of their institutions to the public, drawing the attention of supervisory bodies and governments to the role and needs of museums, and fostering dialogue between professionals and across disciplines. International Museum Day provides museum professionals with the opportunity to interact with the public and to make them aware of the challenges that museums face.

On this day, museums promote the idea that they are an important means of cultural exchange and enrichment, and developing mutual understanding, co-operation and peace.

The Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Department of the City of Tshwane will be celebrating International Museum Day by giving the public free admittance to the Pretoria Art Museum, the Melrose House Museum and the Fort Klapperkop Heritage Site during the week of 18 to 21 May. All three these museums are managed by the City of Tshwane.

Schools and groups are welcome to visit the museums and book guided tours during this week, but bookings must be in advance as space is limited. Entrance will be free, but the guided tours have to be paid for, and schools have to arrange their own transport.

For enquiries call Godfrey Naledzani at the Melrose House Museum (012 322 2805), André Strydom at Fort Klapperkop (012 346 7703) or Mmutle Kgokong at the Pretoria Art Museum (012 344 1807).