Sydney Culture Network celebrates International Museum Day

Sydney Culture Network (SCN) is joining thousands of museums across six continents in May to celebrate International Museum Day, exploring the connections that tie museums to their communities, cultural landscapes and natural environments.

SCN member organisations will join more than 30,000 museums in 120 countries taking part in International Museum Day on and around 18 May, offering special guided tours in diverse languages including Cantonese, Greek and Japanese, historical and contemporary exhibitions, live performances, panel discussions and interactive family programs.

SCN is a city-wide alliance linking Sydney’s artistic organisations – galleries, libraries, museums and creative sector organisations – to boost collaboration and public engagement.

The network, the first of its kind in Australia, encompasses more than 30 key arts and cultural institutions across greater Sydney, including the Art Gallery of NSW (AGNSW), Carriageworks and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA).

International Museum Day, which originated in 1977 with the Paris-based International Council of Museums (ICOM), is a global event that raises awareness of the role that museums play in the development of societies. 

The annual event’s objective is to raise awareness of the fact that museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.

The theme for 2018 is Hyperconnected Museums: New Approaches, New Publics. 

Chair of Sydney Culture Network Professor Ross Harley says: “International Museum Day will see a diverse mix of up to 20 large, small and medium-sized arts and cultural organisations collaborate across greater Sydney. The event brings together many of the state’s most admired, trusted and dynamic institutions.

“International Musuem Day is a moment to celebrate museums as powerful social and artistic centres for education, learning and engagement, for housing priceless collections, for building social cohesion, civic debate and to project our city to the world.’’

This SCN initiative will see unprecedented levels of representation in International Musuem Day from Sydney, with more than 20 cultural institutions and organisations participating including Campbelltown Arts Centre, Casula Powerhouse, Australian Centre for Photography, Art Gallery of NSW, Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Botanic Gardens & Centennial Parklands, Artspace, Mosman Art Gallery, and UNSW Galleries.

International Museum Day is officially 18 May 2018, and the SCN will roll out activities and events throughout May. More information on associated events is available here.

ABOUT THE SYDNEY CULTURE NETWORK

Sydney Culture Network is a group of more than 30 cultural institutions and creative sector organisations working together to make Sydney a global leader in culture. SCN includes leading arts, educational and cultural institutions and organisations of all sizes. Working in collaboration, SCN aims to play a key role in defining the value of culture, and to enhance the international profile of Sydney as a place of creativity and ideas.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY

The International Council of Museums (ICOM) established International Museum Day in 1977 to increase public awareness of the role of museums in the development of society, and it has been steadily gaining momentum ever since. In 2017, International Museum Day garnered record-breaking participation with more than 36,000 museums hosting events in 156 countries.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF MUSEUMS

The International Council of Museums Australia (ICOM Australia) is a part of the global network of museum and heritage professionals committed to the world’s natural and cultural heritage. As a branch of the International Council of Museums based in Paris, it represents the international interests of its member museums and museum professionals across Australia and nearby regions.

MEDIA CONTACT

For further information and to request imagery or interviews please contact Brendan Wall, 0427 689 910.