Do you know ICOM? This organization is the International Council of Museums and is dedicated to the protection and promotion of cultural and natural heritage internationally.
Thanks to the work of ICOM, the International Day of Museums emerged in 1977 as an initiative to celebrate museums, share the challenges they face and raise awareness about the work and importance of these institutions. This is celebrated every May 18th.
Over the years, not only institutions have been added in a particular way, but also countries willing to demonstrate their collaboration with the initiatives of ICOM and the purpose of the International Day of Museums. Currently, more than 32,000 museums from approximately 129 countries participate.
Something very interesting is that the DIM of May 18 is not only celebrated as an anniversary, but each year has a theme and the participating museums manage activities and exhibitions in accordance with these. The topic is selected by ICOM and can vary enormously, from very popular and general topics such as sustainability and well-being (2023 edition of the DIM) to "Museums and controversial stories: saying the unspeakable in museums" (2017).
This year's theme is "Museums for education and research." In Yucatan, several institutions located in Mérida, Tizimín and Chicxulub participate, among these are obviously the most famous museums in the city of Mérida such as the MACAY, the Interactive Museum of the Palace of Music, Casa Montejo Museum and the Great Museum of the Maya World, among others.
