New Challenges, New Inspirations
Friday, (18th May), is International Museum Day, (IMD), and all over the world museums will holding special events based on the theme “Museums in a Changing World – New Challenges, New Inspirations“.
International Museums Day
(Actually, although Friday is designated as International Museums Day, not all events around the globe take place on the day itself, some are spread over the days either side of IMD.)
The idea behind the Museums in a Changing World theme is a recognition whereas each museum will have its own unique set of goals, interests and audiences … they are all faced with interpreting, and existing in, a context that is constantly changing and changing faster than ever. Where technology delivers new ideas and masses of information, which is shared in new ways, such as by social media, and presenting us with new challenges in our work and recreation – whether in the workplace, school, playground or home.
We all have to compete for an audible voice against the furious pace of this background: Schools, Banks, Shops, Tour Companies, Films, Musicians … and so on … even museums, large and small.
Here in Kyrgyzstan we have quite a range of museums – but most of them are quite small and are struggling to cope with the advances and challenges of modern technology. Displays tend to be static and signing is fairly minimal – and what signs do exists are mainly in Russian and/or Kyrgyz – rarely ever in English or any other language. There are few guidebooks, (or leaflets), and those that do exist tend to be poorly printed – in Russian printed in small, (minute), typeface and with occasional black and white photographs.
Having said that, they tend to stage a bewildering numer of exhibitions, which can be interesting to visit even if it means that stating at exhibits not being quite certain what it is that you are seeing. Electing to take a “guided tour” may not help as the guides, even if they are very knowledgeable, rarely speak anything other than the State and Official languages – Kyrgyz and Russian.
Some of the larger museums have started to make the transition into the twenty-first century; some have issued special CD’s and DVD’s and some have their own websites … the site of the State Historical Museum even offers a “virtual tour” of 3D spherical panoramas similar to those on our website www.see.kg. (Indeed, we had been thinking of posting some panoramas from inside the museum, but as a result we might put that plan on the back burner for the moment and look for other subjects).
IMD offers museums around the world a chance to hold activities to act as a way of reaching out to the general public … to explain what they do; to bring more of their collections into the eye and to get members of the public to cross the threshold and visit them.
The activities are organised locally but the arrangements for the day are coordinated by ICOM, the International Council of Museums, which is an international, non-governmental organisation, founded in 1946, which represents museums and those professionals working in them on a global level. They suggested that museums around the world hold events concentrating on the following themes:
- The role of museums in a “new” society.
- Environmental sustainability.
- Using the past to build the future.
- New media.
- Innovation.
Many museums will also operate an “Open Doors Day” when members of the public can visit free of charge.
The two largest museums in Kyrgyzstan have arranged special activities as part of the arrangements to commemorate the occasion.
- The History Museum
Here for example, the Kyrgyz State Historical Museum,is holding an event tonight called Noch v Musee – A Night at the Museum, as part of the ICOM coordinated activity.
Starting at 18:00 and running through to Midnight with the motto “The exhibits come to life!” and a programme that included:
- performances by the Chui Chamber Orchestra Concert,
- a quiz,
- “The Museum maze”,
- theatrical performances,
- jazz improvisation,
- master classes,
- exhibition and sale of handicrafts.
Also during the event will run the permanent expositions:
- History of Kyrgyzstan from ancient times to the beginning of XX century”,
- the foundation of open storage,
- “Gold of the ancient Kyrgyz” and
- other exhibitions.
Friday, (IMD itself), will also be an Open Doors Day.
Within the framework of these activities two new exhibitions will open: “The Monetary System of Kyrgyzstan” and “Revived exhibits”.
Interactive activities, Free of charge …
(For the record: The museum’s website is: www.museum.kg)
The Museum of Fine Arts
Tomorrow sees a collection of activities in another “Night at the Museum” event, including: “The Story of the Exhibit” where different exhibits from various museums around the country, each with an interesting story, will be displayed, with their stories being told by representatives from the museums where they come from and by schoolchildren. An interactive game, “Guess the Painting”, will involve visitors being invited to guess the artist and the work from a fragment displayed on a screen. There will also be master-classes in painting, graphic art, sculpture and Kyrgyz decorative and applied arts; a presentation of an E-excursion around the museum and an audio-guide; a concert with the participation of Jazz group and folk/pop/opera singers and theatrical performances in different exposition halls.
(For the record: The museum’s website is: www.knmii.lg.kg)
Bishkek