International Museum Day at 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 joins museums worldwide in preparation for International Museum Day 2024. This global celebration highlights the role and significance of museums in society today. This year’s theme: Museums for Education and Research, focuses on the importance of museum collections and exhibitions in knowledge production and learning experiences. Iziko’s 5th Annual International Museum Day Symposium will launch the Museum’s programme of events. The Symposium, a public platform of enquiry and engagement, will occur from 13:00 -14:00, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – 14, 15 and 16 May. These interactive lunchtime sessions highlight the work of Iziko educators, curators, collections staff and the partners with whom they collaborate. The Symposium takes place, in the T H Barry Lecture Theatre at the Iziko South African Museum. Entry is Free. Tickets can be booked online via Webtickets https://bit.ly/Iziko_5thSymposium or obtained at the door on the day of the event. Enquiries: Glynn Alard via email galard@iziko.org.za
Marine Biology Collections Store at the Iziko South African Museum
© Iziko Museums of South Africa/N. Pamplin
Presentations cover a diverse range of topics: The role of exhibitions in Museum Education, Emerging artists programmes in Art Education, as well as reflections on Community Art Workshops, explores education and community collaborations as part of museum practice. Processes, apparatus and approaches to imaging will unpack Digitisation in Collections Management in Museums.
The preservation practices in the archaeological collections that the Iziko South African Museum will provide an overview of collections are managed in the 21st century. Repurpose, reuse and recycle is an inspirational story of innovation. Museum Research in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction – a case study of the taxonomy of arrowhead dogfish sharks, explores how museums engage beyond national jurisdictions and borders to conduct research. Bridging Geographic barriers looks at how the Iziko Mobile Museum enables access to remote and underserved areas.
‘More than ten million objects, artefacts and specimens of scientific, artistic and historical value are housed in collections at Iziko Museums. The collections are foundational to generating new bodies of knowledge in applied research at institutions in South Africa and across the world. Collections-based research at Iziko is also used for societal benefit; in policy development and decision-making about our cultural and natural heritage, health, food security and changing environment,’ says Mrs Fahrnaaz Johadien, Acting Executive Director: Core Functions.
Collections showcase at the Iziko South African Museum © Iziko Museums of South Africa/N. Pamplin
The school’s programmes at Iziko Museums provide lessons, resources, special needs activities, educator enrichment workshops and projects aimed at adding value to classroom practice. Lessons conducted during museum visits build on classroom practice and augment the learning experience for both learners and educators. Visits to the museums bring the curriculum to life and provide tangible linkages to textbook concepts in art, history and science. “The school programmes are directly aligned to the national CAPS curriculum and support the learning outcomes at Foundation, Intermediate and Senior, as well as Further Education and Training (FET) Phases,” says Mr Hylton Arnolds, Director, Education.
Outreach Officer, S’Thembile Harmans with a group of learners at the Iziko Slave Lodge
© Iziko Museums of South Africa/N. Pamplin
The Iziko Mobile Museum is an educational resource that extends the museum’s presence beyond Iziko’s physical museum sites. The Museum without Walls takes artefacts and specimens from the museum collections to communities who are unable to visit. Iziko Museums very recently acquired a brand-new Mobile Museum. The new Iziko Mobile Museum will make its first public appearance in front of the Iziko South African Museum on International Museum Day, 18 May 2024.
The new Iziko Mobile Museum will make its first public appearance at the Iziko South African Museum on
International Museum Day. © Iziko Museums of South Africa/N. Pamplin
Then I knew I was good at painting – the Esther Mahlangu Retrospective at the Iziko South African National Gallery is a visual feast showcasing more than seventy years of artmaking. The Iziko Slave Lodge brings into memory the lessons and legacy of the untold stories of enslavement, resistance and liberation. The Effendis of 71 Wale Street aspires to celebrate and help honour the lives of the Effendi family, who formerly lived in the house that now serves as the Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum. Humanity, Tata Madiba and Hidden Wonders are a few of the highlight offerings on show at the Iziko South African Museum.
Entrance to the Iziko South African Museum, Iziko South African National Gallery, Iziko Slave Lodge, Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum and Castle of Good Hope will be *free on International Museum Day, 18 May 2024. Free entrance excludes the Iziko Planetarium.
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 collection-specific libraries in Cape Town. The museums that makeup 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 X (@Iziko_Museums) for regular updates on events, news and new exhibitions.
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY
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.
