MEDIA RELEASE
20 April 2016
DITSONG: Museums of South Africa in collaboration with Geo-Science, Freedom park, City of Tshwane, Post Office Museum and South African Students Services Agency will be celebrating International Museums Day 2016.
The worldwide clique of Museums will celebrate a never to be missed fun filled day at Cultural History Museum on the 18 May 2016. The Celebration will last for five days full of an exciting stir of educational and fun activities, therefore all participating museum will open for free to the public from 18-22 May 2016.
There will be a launch on Wednesday, 18 May 2016 where few Schools will be invited to attend at DITSONG: National Museum of Cultural History in Tshwane. This will give an opportunity for all South Africans to take their families to experience what museums offers, be it entertainment or education.
The theme for this year is “Museums and Cultural landscapes”
The theme makes museums responsible for their landscapes, asking them to contribute knowledge, expertise and take an active role in the management and upkeep. The primary mission of museums is to oversee heritage, whether it be inside or outside their walls. Highlighting the link between museums and cultural heritage enhances the idea of museums as territorial centres involved in actively protecting cultural landscape.
During the launch (18 May), the museums will showcase their collections in an exhibition that will be held at DITSONG: National Museum of Cultural History. The Museum Passport will be distributed to all learners again this year. The passport is aimed at encouraging learners and their families to visit museums. Each time a leaner visits a museum; he/she will accumulate a stamp, which will enable them to stand an opportunity to win prizes for themselves. The prizes will include cameras, cellular phones and a tablet.
We encourage schools and the public to take this opportunity to visit our museums.
The DITSONG group of museums comprises of the following:
National Museums of Natural History, National Museum of Cultural History, National Museum of Military History, Kruger Museum, Pioneer Museum, Sammy Marks Museum, Tswaing Meteorite Crater and Willem Prinsloo Agricultural Museum.
City of Tshwane comprise of the following:
Pretoria Art Museum, Centurion Art Gallery an, Fort Klapperkop Heritage Site and Mellrose House Museum
Enquiries:
Mrs. Tebogo Kgari, Ditsong Museums of South Africa. Contact (012) 000 00 10 Cell: 084 408 1637 or email: Tebogo@ditsong.org.za or Ms Lucia Kutumela Cell: 082 438 7089 Email: Lucia@ditsong.org.za or Mr Kholisile Nzolo Geoscince Museum (012) 322 7123 Cell: 072 184 4833 or email: Knzolo@geoscience.org.za
