Message by Secretary General David Andre on the occasion of International Museum Day, May 18, 2022 |19 May 2022
Mr Andre
‘Let’s promote a culture of museum visits for the creation of a better Seychelles’
“On this International Museum Day, Seychelles stands like the rest of the world to reflect on the importance of museums in our society. The value of museums to society has always been acknowledged in respect of their role in preserving society's cultural and natural heritage.
“We are reminded by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) that International Museum Day (IMD) appeals to museums around the world to raise awareness of the importance of museums as a means of cultural exchange, cultural enrichment and identity consolidation, and the promotion of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.
“Of great significance in all this is the growing recognition of the ‘lived’ museum which entails that a museum does not always reside in a building with exhibits, but rather, that in most cases, the museum is the lived space or environment of the people. This has great significance for us as we seek to build on the experience of our people in our thrust to strengthen national cultural identities and promote prosperity through cultural and heritage industries. The pandemic has led museums to accelerate change and explore new solutions to transform the emergency into a catalyst for innovations.
“The theme of International Museum Day which falls on May 18 is ‘The Power of Museums’. Museums, as educational institutions have the power to transform the world around us. As incomparable places of discovery, they teach us about our past and open our minds to new ideas. Not only can our museums bring history to life, but they can also shine a light on both our present and our future – a light which can be hard to find elsewhere.
“May 18 is also considered a day for recognition for museum workers. Therefore, I warmly congratulate all the specialists in the field who continuously contribute towards the preservation, development and dissemination of different museum programmes.
“Seychelles has been celebrating International Museum Day since the 1990s, and we are proud that museums in Seychelles have decided to fully participate in this important activity just as many other museums around the world, with a programme of activities such as flash sales at the museum shop, quiz on the National Radio, slavery exhibition showcasing the history of slavery in Seychelles, ‘Museum in the Box’ travelling to schools and the old people’s home in the Victoria region, and many more.
“The Culture Institute will continue to support the work done by museums in the protection, promotion and preservation of our cultural and natural heritage of our country, Seychelles.
“I would like to encourage particularly our children and their parents, schools, churches, social clubs and societies to visit museums on International Museum Day. These museums belong to all of us and we must be proud to visit them to appreciate our heritage.
“Let us, during this International Museum Day and beyond, develop and promote a culture of museum visits for the creation of a better Seychelles.”
David Andre
Secretary-General of the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage & the Arts