18th of May – International Museum Day

Every year on May 18, museum workers from all over the world celebrate their professional holiday - the International Museum Day. And, of course, those of us who are looking forward to the next visit to the local history museum of the city or to meet with rare exhibits of the Hermitage or the Louvre are also involved in today's holiday.

He appeared on the calendar in 1977, when, at the next meeting of the International Council of Museums, the proposal of a Russian organization to establish this cultural holiday was adopted. Since 1978, the International Museum Day has been celebrated in more than 150 countries.

It is believed that through museums the society expresses its attitude to the historical and cultural heritage, and it is difficult not to agree with this. Collecting and storing monuments of material and spiritual culture, museums conduct a great scientific, educational and educational work.

On the same holiday, many museums in different countries of the world open their doors to everyone absolutely free, prepare new expositions, thematic lectures, tours, scientific readings. Currently, more than 20,000 museums around the world celebrate this holiday.

Often, this important cultural event coincides with the holding of thematic festivals, the most famous of which is the “Museum Night”, which has become very popular in recent years. It is held in many cities of the world, as a rule, on the night from Saturday to Sunday, closest to May 18th.

Festive events can last one day, a weekend or a week. The main thing is that their essence should correspond to the principle: "Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and the development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among people."