UPCT celebrates International Museum Day “virtually”

Posted on May 31, 2021

The University of Pretoria Campus Tours (UPCT) proudly presented International Museum Day (IMD) on 18 May 2021. Although Museum Day is a regular annual event on the University of Pretoria (UP) calendar, this was the first time the event was held on a virtual platform. 

In collaboration with UP Museums, five virtual tours were conducted as a virtual taster of what UP Museums have to offer. The five sessions attracted more than 100 guests. 

Each year, since 1977, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) has organised International Museum. The objective of IMD is to raise awareness and show that “Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.” 

Organised annually on 18 May, the events and activities planned to celebrate IMD can last a day, a weekend, or an entire week, coordinated by the ICOM. Internationally, more and more museums are choosing to participate in IMD. Last year, more than 37,000 museums participated in the event in about 158 countries.

Each year the event highlights a specific theme reflecting on a relevant issue facing museums internationally. With the theme “The Future of Museums: Recover and Reimagine”, International Museum Day 2021 invited museums, their professionals, and communities to create, imagine and share new practices of (co-)creation of value, new business models for cultural institutions and innovative solutions for the social, economic, and environmental challenges of the present.

UPCT, which is run as a practical component of the Honours degree in Heritage and Cultural Tourism, offers a range of tours on the Hatfield campus of UP for all who are interested, including foreign dignitaries, visiting academics, prospective students, university staff, international students, school groups and members of the public. 

Under Covid-19 regulations “Bubble tours” are offered which comprise of a tourist guide and four guests. Tours usually take about an hour and are conducted in English. 

Other languages might be available depending on the Honours group. The cost for weekdays is R85.00 per tourist guide (and 4 guests). 

For tour bookings please email: [email protected] 

For visits to the University of Pretoria Museums please email:  [email protected] 

- Author Matshidiso Masaela

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