International Museum Day

Since 1977, in an effort to highlight the role of museums in contemporary society, the International Council of Museums has established, the 18th May as the International Museum Day. The point of this anniversary is to turn the museums into a vehicle for cultural exchange in order to achieve « the development of education, mutual understanding and collaboration between peoples ».

Each year, in parallel with the general point of the celebration, a theme is decided on by the Advisory Committee, with speeches and other events. With the opportunity of the celebration, the Hellenic National Committee of ICOM organises various cultural events during the month of May throughout the country. On the 18th May, there is free entrance in all museums.

International Museum Day 2009 - Click for Programme (PDF, 0.5 MB)

Themes and honoured museums

2009	Museums and Cultural Tourism National Museum of Modern Art
2008	Museums as Factors of Social Change and Development Μουσείο Πλινθοκεραμοποιίας Ν.& Σ. Τσαλαπάτα
2007	Museums and Cultural Heritage Εθνική Γλυπτοθήκη
2006	Museums and young people Museum of Cycladic Art
2005	Museums, bridging cultures Byzantine and Christian Museum Museum of Byzantine Culture (Thessaloniki) Benaki Museum
2004	Museums and Intangible Heritage Eugenides Foundation
2003	Museums and Friends Benaki Museum
2002	Museums and Globalisation Numismatic Museum
2001	Museums: buldgin community Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation – Museum V. Papantoniou
2000	Museums for Peace and Harmony in Society Κέντρο Μελέτης Νεώτερης Κεραμεικής
1999	Pleasures of discovery Επιγραφικό Μουσείο
1998	The fight against illicit traffic of cultural property
1997	Αγώνας κατά της παράνομης διακίνησης των πολιτιστικών αγαθών
1996	Collecting today for tomorrow/b>
1995	Response and responsibility Πινακοθήκες και μουσεία τέχνης στο Ν. Αττικής
1994	Behind the scenes in Museums Εθνικό Ιστορικό Μουσείο
1993	Museums and Indigenous Peoples Μουσείο Ελληνικών Λαϊκών Μουσικών Οργάνων Φοίβου Ανωγειακάκη - Κέντρο Εθνομουσικολογίας
1992	Museums and Environment/b> Μουσείο Γουλανδρή Φυσικής Ιστορίας
1991	National Archaeological Museum
1990	Museums of Thessaloniki
1989	Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art Benaki Museum
1988	Tribute to the 900 years of the holy monastery of Saint Ioannis Theologos of Patmos Byzantine and Christian Museum
1987	Education and Cultural Action in Museums
1986	Honoured Museum: Nautical Museum of Greece
1985	Honoured Museum: Archaeological Museum of Volos
1984	Honoured Museum: Numismatic Museum