International Museum Day. Image courtesy of the International Council of Museums

International Museum Day is celebrated on 18 May each year. The theme for 2011 is Museum and Memory.

Australian museums vary from the small, the privately owned, the community museums, to the large, government enterprises. Each has its own important place in making Australian heritage come alive, and preserving our past for future generations.

Australia has many fine museums which provide exciting experiences both online and in the real world.

International Museum Day was established in 1977 by the International Council of Museums (ICOM), and was first celebrated in 1978. It, and future International Museum Days, would be:

... accompanied by the opening of new museums and exhibitions, meetings with visitors, acquaintance of the public with the aims and tasks and practical activity of the International Council of Museums and its national organisations, publication of materials on this subject in the press and also by the organisation of exchange exhibitions and international forums to discuss major problems of the theory and practice of the museum profession.
12th General Assembly of ICOM, Resolution No 5, 28 May 1977

Australian museums

• Collections Australia Network
• National Museum of Australia
• Western Australian Museum
• Powerhouse Museum - Sydney
• South Australian Museum
• Museum Victoria
• Queensland Museum

World museums

• American Museum of Natural History
• British Museum
• Brooklyn Museum of Art
• Diego Rivera Web Museum
• Virtual Museum of Canada
• Imperial War Museum
• Museo del Prado, Spain
• US Space Rocket Center
• International Council of Museums

Last updated: 28th February 2011