ICOM cordially invites  all members of the global museum community to
participate in IMD on 18 May 2008 with activities in their museums based on
our theme museums as agents of social change and development

and to join us 

at The Tech Museum of Innovation on SECOND LIFE 

for the first-ever International Museum Day celebration in the virtual
world.

For all activities, please see: http://icom.museum/

 ICOM @ THE TECH @ SECOND LIFE
18 MAY 2008
24H/24
+ info : http://icom.museum                                  
  email : [log in to unmask]

REVOLUTION ON INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY
18th MAY 2008

ICOM ensures that May 18th will be the largest-ever international gathering
of museums.

The International Council of Museums (ICOM), announces this year's theme for
International Museum Day :"Museums as Agents of Social Change and
Development". For the first time since the celebration was created in 1977,
ICOM is inviting museums to take action in museums around the globe both in
the real world and in the virtual world.

Alissandra Cummins, President of ICOM states: "While traditionally museums
are known for their collections, more and more museums are taking an active
key role in exploring social issues with communities to contribute to their
development. The educational and ethical function of the museum is to engage
culturally diverse contemporary communities through exhibitions and
workshops and their design. International Museum Day shows that it is
possible to gather together in a new way to interpret the past in light of
the present to shape a better future."

In 2007, approximately 20,000 museums in more than 70 countries already
participated in the 30th International Museum Day with activities,
partnerships, and events connected to "Museums & Universal Heritage". This
year, to better express changes in society and explore development, ICOM is
inviting the world museum community in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, North
America, Latin America, and Europe to create activities in their museums
based on this theme and to gather in new ways to celebrate International
Museum Day. See: http://icom.museum/imd.html

The highlight of the suggested online activities on http://icom.museum is
hosted by The Tech Museum of Innovation on 18 May in the replica of its
Silicon Valley museum of technology on SECOND LIFER, the virtual 3-D
platform created by Linden LabR. From real-world museums, museum
professionals and the public will be able to communicate with colleagues,
artists and "residents" in the virtual world. They will therefore be able to
participate in the collective development of exhibits in The Tech in SECOND
LIFER.

Alissandra Cummins adds: "The developing world has been suffering from the
digital divide: on International Museum Day, we want to show how museums can
help bridge that divide between two worlds through new creative interaction
between museum professionals."

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