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In support of International Museum Day (IMD), the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will hold International Museum Day 2016, Hong Kong (IMD 2016, HK) on May 14 and 15 (Saturday and Sunday). On these dates numerous museums and cultural venues under the LCSD as well as other local cultural institutions will offer free admission to the public.
Under IMD 2016's theme of "Museums and Cultural Landscapes", cultural landscapes are seen as properties of human culture which, encompassing both nature and history, represent the combined products of nature and man. Closely associated with our life and society, cultural landscapes are constantly changing. Museums are always working on their collections, research, exhibitions and education. Nowadays, museums need to go beyond their collections and share responsibility in conserving the cultural landscapes in society's surrounding environment. Only then can they undertake a more active role in issues facilitating the protection of cultural landscapes.
There are 42 local cultural institutions participating in IMD 2016, HK, including the Hong Kong Museum of History and its branches, Hong Kong Museum of Art and its branches, Hong Kong Heritage Museum and its branches, Hong Kong Science Museum, Hong Kong Space Museum, Sam Tung Uk Museum, Hong Kong Film Archive, the Conservation Office, Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre, Ping Shan Tang Clan Gallery cum Heritage Trail Visitors Centre, Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre and Oi!, all of which are under the LCSD; also the Museum of Ethnology, Asia Society Hong Kong Center, Tung Wah Museum, Po Leung Kuk Museum, the University Museum and Art Gallery of the University of Hong Kong, Stephen Hui Geological Museum of the University of Hong Kong, the Art Museum of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, HKDI Gallery, Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Dr and Mrs Hung Hin Shiu Museum of Chinese Medicine at Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Museum of Education of the Hong Kong Institute of Education, Heritage of Mei Ho House, Hong Kong Racing Museum, Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum, City Gallery, kaitak - Centre for Research and Development in Visual Arts, Lions Nature Education Centre of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Tao Heung Museum of Food Culture, Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, Jao Tsung-I Academy, and the Police Museum.
Admission to most of the above venues will be free of charge on May 14 and 15, except for the special exhibition "Claude Monet: The Spirit of Place" which is now being held at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, shows at the Stanley Ho Space Theatre of the Hong Kong Space Museum and film programmes at the Cinema of the Hong Kong Film Archive.
Special exhibitions are currently being staged at the LCSD's museums, such as: "Collider: Step inside the World's Greatest Experiment" at the Hong Kong Science Museum and "Braving the Storm: Hong Kong under Japanese Occupation" at the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence. During IMD 2016, HK, a variety of special programmes and educational activities will be held by the participating cultural institutions including the Hong Kong Museum of Art and Hong Kong Space Museum, which are now closed and partially closed respectively for renovation.
For venue admission and programme details of IMD 2016, HK, please refer to announcements by individual participating institutions or visit the website of Hong Kong Public Museums www.museums.gov.hk/IMD2016.
In 1977 the International Council of Museums designated May 18 of each year as IMD. Since 2001, the LCSD has annually held IMD, Hong Kong in mid-May with the aim of raising public awareness of the roles and functions of museums in society.
Ends/Thursday, May 12, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:00
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