Celebrate with Iziko Museums of South Africa!
For media images and interview requests please contact: Zikhona Jafta at mediaofficer@iziko.org.za
Iziko Museums of South Africa (Iziko) will celebrate International Museum Day on Thursday, 18 May 2023. Instituted by the International Council of Museums in 1977, this global campaign highlights the role, value and significance of museums in society. This year’s theme “Museums sustainability and Wellbeing” explores how museums can contribute to achieving the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals: from supporting climate action and fostering inclusivity, to tackling social isolation and improving mental health.
“Iziko Museums are places of creativity, innovation, renewal and discovery. The exhibitions, buildings, programmes and events at Iziko bring to light our art, histories, and heritage. Our museums are also spaces of recalibrating our thinking and serves as cultural hubs where community, creativity and new knowledge interconnect,” says Ms Rooksana Omar, Chief Executive Officer, Iziko. Iziko’s International Museum Day programme brings together various aspects of the museums in a weeklong showcase.
Iziko Mobile Museum Outreach
Iziko ensures access to its collections and resources through the Iziko Mobile Museum. This educational outreach project extends the museum’s presence beyond the physical museum site by taking the museum resources to communities who are unable to visit. Catch the Mobile Museum in and around the city this week.
International Museum Day Symposium
The 4th Symposium will be hosted over two days on Wednesday, 17 and Thursday, 18 May 2023.
These interactive lunchtime sessions provide the public with the opportunity to actively engage with Iziko collections within today’s environmental contexts and showcase the work of Iziko curators, researchers, collections and conservation staff.
Facilitated by Iziko Educator, Glynn Alard, the presentations will take place in the T H Barry Lecture Hall at the Iziko South African Museum. Tickets are available online via webtickets https://bit.ly/Iziko_Symposium2023 and at the door, on the day of the event.
| Day 1: Wednesday, 17 May | Day 2: Thursday, 18 May |
| 13:00 – 14:30 | 13:00 – 14:00 |
| Breaking Down the Walls – ISANG: Jay Van DenBerg & Andrew Lamprecht Evolution of Indigenous Art Exhibition: Annelize Kotze and Lukretia Booysen The importance of digitising museum collections: Zimkitha Ngalek, Lerato Lehana & Andile Ngceba “Mutoko”: a hidden Rock Art Treasure of Southern Africa: Janene Van Wyk & Bradley Mottie | The journey thus far: A taxonomic and systematic evaluation of the Afrotropical parasitoid Darwin wasp genus Netelia (Tryphoninae, Ichneumonidae): Mikhaila Gordon From our collections to your devices: 3D technology workflow: Dimakatso Mokgoshi Shark Diving at the Museum: a sustainable experience: Sarah Viana |
Free entrance on International Museum Day 18 May
Entrance to the Iziko South African Museum, National Gallery, Slave Lodge, Bo-Kaap Museum, Rust en Vreugd, Bertram House and Koopmans de Wet House museums will be free. Visit one or all these museums and explore exhibitions showcasing our history, heritage and art.
International Museum Day 18 May Activities:
- The Iziko Collections Team will display a diverse range of Natural History specimens at the Iziko South African Museum from 09:00 until 15:30.
- Iziko Art Education in collaboration with the Western Cape Education Department
(WCED)will host an art presentation entitled: ‘Opportunities in challenging times.’
This takes place in the Iziko South African National Gallery Annexe, St Johns Road from 09:00 until 15:30.
- School groups can join the Hunters and Herders activity in the Discovery Room at the Iziko South African Museum. Enquiries and bookings via Wardah Harris on 021 481 3823 or via email wharris@iziko.org.za
International Museum Day | Weekend update:
Climate change, biodiversity loss and social inequality are a some of the challenges faced by societies across the globe. Many flowering plant rely on bees for pollination. They are an essential component of the ecosystem. They produce honey, beeswax, royal jelly and propolis. Bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats and hummingbirds, are increasingly under threat from human activities.
Join Iziko and Bee Inspired at the Iziko South African Museum between 10:00 and 13:00 on Saturday, 20 May 2023. Sample fresh honey and honeycombs whilst discovering the “Buzz about Honeybees”, an exhibition highlighting the value and significance of bees.
ENDS
Issued on behalf of the Office of the CEO, Iziko Museums of South Africa
Issued by: Melody Kleinsmith
Marketing and Communications Manager
Iziko Museums of South Africa
About Iziko Museums of South Africa (Iziko)
Iziko operates 11 national museums, the Planetarium and Digital Dome, the Social History Centre and three collectionspecific libraries in Cape Town. The museums that make up Iziko have their own history and character, presenting extensive art, social and natural history collections that reflect our diverse African heritage. Iziko is a public entity and public benefit organisation that brings together these museums under a single governance and leadership structure. The organisation allows *free access to all individuals on commemorative days, (*excluding the Castle of Good Hope, Groot Constantia and Planetarium and Digital Dome).
Visit our webpage at www.iziko.org.za, join our online community on Facebook (www.facebook.com/IzikoMuseums), Instagram (@izikomuseumssa) or follow us on Twitter (@Iziko_Museums) for regular updates on events, news and new exhibitions.
ABOUT
The International Council of Museums (ICOM) established International Museum Day in 1977 to increase public awareness of the role of museums in cultural exchange and to promote their importance in the development of society, it has been steadily gaining momentum ever since. ICOM is an international non-governmental organisation made up of over 45.493 museum professionals in 123 countries and territories.
