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International Museum Day 2013, Hong Kong (IMD 2013 HK) will be held tomorrow and on Sunday (May 18 and 19). All museums under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) as well as other local cultural institutes taking part in the event will organise open days with free admission on these two days. There will also be a series of programmes and activities offered for public enjoyment.
Anyone wanting more information about IMD 2013 HK can obtain it through the website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/specials/imd2013/en/index.php) or by taking part in the smartphone game "iButterfly". After installing this application, smartphone users will be able to get the latest news about IMD 2013 HK by capturing until Sunday. In addition, they can redeem a specially designed souvenir on the museum open days by gathering virtual "museum butterflies" and "IMD butterflies" when visiting the participating museums or cultural institutes.
Visitors can also redeem an event souvenir by obtaining a museum guide map that has been stamped by any of the participating museums and cultural institutes. The museum guide map is available at all participating museums and institutes on the museum open days.
The 39 local cultural institutes that are participating in IMD 2013 HK are the Hong Kong Museum of History and its branches; the Hong Kong Museum of Art; the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and its branches; the Hong Kong Science Museum; the Hong Kong Space Museum; the Flagstaff House Museum Of Tea Ware; the Hong Kong Film Archive; the Conservation Office under the LCSD; the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre; the Ping Shan Tang Clan Gallery cum Heritage Trail Visitors Centre; the Art Promotion Office; the Museum of Ethnology; 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; the Hong Kong Design Institute Gallery; the Hong Kong Maritime Museum; Dr & Mrs Hung Hin Shiu Museum of Chinese Medicine at Hong Kong Baptist University; the Hong Kong Museum of Education of the Hong Kong Institute of Education; the Hong Kong Racing Museum; the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences; the Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum; City Gallery; the Lions Nature Education Centre of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department; Tao Heung Museum of Food Culture; the Police Museum; and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug Info Centre.
All participating institutes will offer free admission tomorrow and on Sunday except the Space Theatre of the Hong Kong Space Museum, film programmes of the Hong Kong Film Archive, the Conservation Office under the LCSD and the Hong Kong Maritime Museum. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug Info Centre will be closed on Sunday.
On the museum open days, access to some thematic exhibitions will be available free of charge, including the Hong Kong Museum of Art's "The Origin of Dao: New Dimensions in Chinese Contemporary Art", which features paintings, lacquerware, ceramics, installations, video and animation by 37 Chinese artists from the Mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan and overseas, showing the transformation of artistic creation and cultural reflection in Chinese contemporary art. Those wishing to learn more about local history should not miss the "Anti-Japanese War Heroes – An Exhibition on the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column" at the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence. The exhibition tells the stories and achievements of a local guerrilla force formed during war against Japanese occupation. For families, the "Intelligence Infinity: Inspiration through Art" exhibition at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum offers a unique museum experience through interaction with fun-filled artistic exhibits.
In 1977, the International Council of Museums designated May 18 of each year as International Museum Day. Every year since 2001 the LCSD has held International Museum Day, Hong Kong in mid-May with the aim of raising public awareness of the roles and functions of museums in society.
IMD's theme this year, "Museums (Memory + Creativity) = Social Change", reflects concepts that are essential to defining what museums are today, highlighting their universal nature and positive influence on society, the complexity of museum tasks and the contribution of museums to their communities. Museums are evolving by reconciling their traditional mission of conservation with the creativity necessary for their survival and the development of their audiences, in the conviction that their presence and actions can transform society constructively.
Ends/Friday, May 17, 2013
Issued at HKT 09:00
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