International Museums Day kicks off with Heritage Malta event

ICOM is the international organisation of museums and museum professionals committed to the conservation, continuation and communication to society of world natural and cultural heritage, present and future, tangible and intangible.

Created in 1946, ICOM is an NGO maintaining formal relations with the United Nations' Economic and Social Council.

In 2007, approximately 20,000 museums in more than 70 countries celebrated the 30th anniversary of International Museum Day with activities, partnerships, and events.

This year, to better express changes in society and explore development, the International Council of Museums announces this year's theme as: 'Museums as agents of social change and development'. To promote this special day Heritage Malta, in collaboration with ICOM Malta, is holding events today at the following sites: Ħadd ma' Heritage Malta (Rabat) (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.); behind-the-scene tours at the National Museum of Natural History (10 and 11.30 a.m., 2 and 3.30 p.m.); education programme tours, including a museum hunt, at 2 and 3.30 p.m., guided tours for children at 10 and 11.30 a.m.; Domus Romana tours at 11 a.m., 2 and 3 p.m.; and tours to the Jewish cemetery every half an hour between 10.30 a.m. and noon and 2.30-4.30 p.m.

Adults and students pay €7, members €5.

For more information, contact Heritage Malta or ICOM Malta at heritage_enterprise@onvol.net.