About International Museum Day

Old wagon in the Museum Village

International Museum Day has been celebrated all over the world since 1977 during the month of May under the auspices of ICOM, the International Council of Museums. The ICOM Advisory Committee decides on a theme for every year. For 2007, the worldwide theme is "Museums and Universal Heritage" and International Museum Day will be held on May 18.

As ICOM explains, "The event provides the opportunity for museum professionals to meet the public and alert them to the challenges that museums face if they are to be — as in the ICOM definition of museums — an institution in the service of society and of its development."

In KwaZulu-Natal, the Provincial Museum Service (which falls under the Office of the Premier) selected eShowe as the host for International Museum Day in 2007. In 2006 the honour fell to Talana Museum in Dundee.