Someone was asking for suggestions for events for International Museum 
Day on Thursday, May 18th... The UK has Museums & Galleries Month and I 
can recommend the website:

http://www.mgm.org.uk/

As well as lots of information about what's going on this year there is 
a section for organisers with ideas, case studies, publicity kit etc. 
Well worth a look.

This is from the section on Themes and Objectives:

"Aims and objectives of Museums and Galleries Month

To increase the number of visitors to museums and galleries
To raise the profile of museums and galleries
To create lasting benefits for those working in museums and galleries

Key audiences for Museums and Galleries Month overall are new and lapsed 
visitors, decision makers and opinion formers, the media and friends, 
volunteers, museum staff, trustees. We expect that individual museums 
and galleries will refine these targets to fit in with their own overall 
objectives.

The Theme

Museums and Galleries Month will start with a bang - the WELCOME WEEKEND.

Activities might include: Curators and managers taking visitors on 
“taster tours” of ten to 30 minutes; exhibition staff taking visitors 
behind the scenes; artists and education officers inviting adults and 
children of all ages to experience school activities; conservators 
showing off their skills on contemporary and ancient objects; 
fundraisers showing off the latest acquisition; friends and volunteers 
explaining their roles and taking charge of general guided tours; short 
talks and lectures on how the museum or gallery actually works. You may 
want to finish the weekend with a big party!

MGM will continue with a series of national and regional events, and 
with your own activities to keep and renew contact with past and new 
visitors. “Making connections: past, present and future…” is our overall 
theme to link these together. It is up to each museum and gallery to 
develop this theme to suit you.

“Making connections” is a gateway for working with others, artists, 
other museums and galleries, and heritage attractions both in marketing 
initiatives and in developing events. There are some exciting 
anniversaries in 2006 which you may want to link into – from the already 
huge Brunel bi-centenary celebrations to the 400th anniversary of 
Shakespeare’s Macbeth."

Best wishes,
Rosemary Silvester
Bristol Magpies,
Supporters Group, Bristol's Museums, Galleries & Archives

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