In support of International Museum Day (IMD), the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will hold International Museum Day 2019, Hong Kong (IMD 2019, HK) on May 18 and 19 (Saturday and Sunday). During this period, some 40 cultural institutions including museums and cultural venues under the LCSD as well as other local cultural institutions will offer free admission to the public. A wide range of educational and entertainment programmes will also be held.
The IMD theme this year is "Museums as Cultural Hubs: The Future of Tradition", which recognises that museums are reinventing themselves in a quest to be more audience-focused, community-oriented, interactive, flexible, adaptable and mobile agencies, providing visitors with platforms where creativity combines with knowledge. Museums are also finding new ways to honour their collections, histories and legacies, creating traditions that will give new meaning for future generations and relevance for an increasingly diverse contemporary audience at a global level, in the hope of translating local communities' needs and views into a global concern.
The participating local cultural institutions will offer free admission to the public, except for thematic exhibitions and fee-charging programmes. The institutions include 16 LCSD museums and cultural venues, as well as the Asia Society Hong Kong Center, the Tung Wah Museum, the Po Leung Kuk Museum, the University Museum and Art Gallery of the University of Hong Kong, the Stephen Hui Geological Museum of the University of Hong Kong, the Art Museum of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), the CUHK Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, the Dr & Mrs Hung Hin Shiu Museum of Chinese Medicine of the Hong Kong Baptist University, the Hong Kong Museum of Education of the Education University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Racing Museum, the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, the Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum, the Heritage of Mei Ho House, the City Gallery, the AFCD Lions Nature Education Centre, the Tao Heung Museum of Food Culture, the Jao Tsung-I Academy, the kaitak, the Centre for Research and Development in Visual Arts, the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre, the Ping Shan Tang Clan Gallery cum Heritage Trail Visitors Centre and the Police Museum.
For details of IMD 2019, HK, please visit the website of the Hong Kong Public Museums at www.museums.gov.hk/IMD2019.
The LCSD has held Hong Kong events annually in support of IMD since 2001. The International Council of Museums designated May 18 as IMD in 1977 to raise public awareness of the important role that museums play in society.