“As we face major global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and social inequalities, museums can help educate the public on these issues and encourage action for positive change,” said the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in a statement released on the occasion.
According to ICOM, “museums can contribute in many ways to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including supporting climate action, fostering inclusivity, combating social isolation and improving mental health.”
“This can be done through educational programmes, exhibitions, outreach and research,” the international organisation explains, stressing that “as trusted institutions and important parts of our shared social fabric, museums are uniquely placed to create a ripple effect and foster positive change.”
Thus, museums are not only conservatories of works and places that host exchanges and promote cultural enrichment, but they are also a social and civic reference. These institutions also play an important role in promoting sustainable practices and in educating the public on the importance of sustainability and well-being.
ICOM established International Museum Day (IMD) in 1977 to raise awareness of the role of museums in cultural exchange and to highlight their importance as institutions serving society and its development.
Furthermore, since 2020 this annual day has particularly supported three axes from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely ensuring healthy lives, promoting well-being for all at all ages and taking urgent measures to combat climate change and its impacts.
It is also about protecting, restoring and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, taking into account indigenous voices and raising awareness of biodiversity loss.
This event brings together more and more museums around the world. In 2022, it brought together more than 37,000 museums that participated in this event in nearly 156 countries.
2024-08-18 23:46:00