The Ministry of Culture is organising a week-long celebration of ‘International Museum Day’ across its museums all over India from 16th-20th May 2022. The National Museum (New Delhi), National Gallery of Modern Art (New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru), Allahabad Museum (Prayagraj), Indian Museum (Kolkata), Victoria Memorial Hall (Kolkata), Salar Jung Museum (Hyderabad) and Science cities and centres under National Council of Science Museums (in 24 locations across India) are undertaking special initiatives throughout the designated week.
A slew of special programs as well as widened outreach strategies to attract a diverse and inclusive audience have been carefully curated by the national museums. Special exhibitions, projection mapping shows, extended museum hours, free admission for the week, music/dance performances including flash-mob and targeted activities for children such as clay modelling, miniature painting, and origami workshops have been organized in an attempt to offer a holistic museum experience to all age groups. Limited edition museum merchandise, as well as photo booths in all museums, are also being launched as part of the commemoration.
Since 1977, ICOM has been organizing an International Museum Day (IMD), which represents a unique event for the international museum community. The objective of this day is to raise awareness of the role that museums play as an ‘important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.’
As a part of the celebrations, the National Gallery of Modern Art is also organising a host of educational activities and programs under the theme of ‘Power of Museums, ’as mentioned by the International Council of Museums (ICOM). There will be two seminal exhibitions focusing on the modern masters of Indian art titled, Hastantaran and Kshetragya. While the exhibition Hastantaran invites the viewer to the artistic and spiritual journey of the Nandalal Bose (1882- 1966) traversing through different mediums, murals to lithographs and panel paintings done for the Haripura session of Congress; Kshetragya celebrates the Navratnas of India’s National Art Treasures, with a special focus on the artistic interventions of Benode Behari Mukherjee and Ramkinkar Baij.
A series of guided walkthroughs and art workshops based on the art of Jamini Roy and Amrita Sher-Gil will form the core of the interdisciplinary program. Night at the Museum will be organized for underprivileged children during the extended visiting hours of the museum in the evening with 3D projection mapping.
Under the auspices of the cultural exchange program between India and Brazil, the exhibition titled, Brasilia and the construction of Modern Brazil will be inaugurated on 16th May 2022.
The National Museum offers a unique rendezvous with ideas and experiences for visitors of all age groups, backgrounds and interests, and NM has been working towards creating interest and awareness of history, and arts among different audiences.
