Press Release, 6 January 2004


International Museum Day 2004 : "Museums and Intangible Heritage"

On 18 May 2004, museums all over the world will be celebrating International
Museum Day. The theme for 2004 is "Museums and Intangible Heritage".

For the museum profession, the issue of intangible heritage is one of the
most important areas to be explored in the years ahead.  The museum has
traditionally been a space in which material evidence of the past is
collected, conserved and displayed. The practices, ideas, knowledge and
skills associated with these physical objects have received less attention.
Yet intangible representations are undoubtedly an essential part of any
civilisation.

In the words of Jacques Perot, the President of ICOM, "The theme of this
26th edition of International Museum Day is of capital importance to
museums, which must play a part in preserving and protecting the intangible
forms of our common heritage from the threat of cultural homogenisation."

This year International Museum Day will pave the way for the 20th ICOM
General Conference, which is due to be held in Seoul in October 2004 and
will also focus on the theme of intangible heritage. The idea is that the
innovative activities organised throughout the world on International Museum
Day will provide inspiration and feed into the debates which will take place
in Seoul during this unique international gathering of museum professionals.

International Museum Day was launched by ICOM in 1977. The aim of this
annual event is to raise public awareness of the vital role museums play in
society. With planned activities including open days, temporary exhibitions,
guided tours and public events and workshops, 18 May 2004 will be a day of
celebration for museums all over the world, and we invite all our members to
take part in the festivities.

For further information about the theme or the activities planned for
International Museum Day, visit the ICOM website at
http://icom.museum/imd.html <http://icom.museum/imd.html>


Contact : Valérie Jullien
Communications Officer - ICOM secretariat
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