A day of learning for all
TOMORROW is international museum day and the Iziko Museums of South Africa will be participating along with the museum community.
The theme for this year is “Museums and contested histories, saying the unspeakable in museums”. Entrance will be free at most of our museums, excluding Groot Constantia Estate.
The Iziko Museums of South Africa promise a hive of activity that will provide the public with insight into the country’s history, natural history and art collections.
“This theme focuses on the role of museums that, by working to benefit society, become hubs for promoting peaceful relationships between people,” Iziko Museums said .
This year the programme began on May 12 and 13 when the participants of the Slave Route Challenge were invited to visit the Iziko Mobile Museum at the Castle of Good Hope.
The history of slavery dates back to 1653 when the first slaves arrived in the Cape. Approximately 60 000 slaves were brought into the Cape until slavery was abolished in 1834.
The public will also be able to see collections of dinosaur artifacts, rock art and live spiders.
Visitors can also participate in activities such as drumming and watch a cultural performance.
Reader enthusiasts can also enjoy some story time in the Discovery room.
“By choosing to say the unspeakable in museums, the theme of IMD 2017 looks at how to understand the incomprehensible aspects of the contested histories inherent to the human race. It also encourages museums to play an active role in peacefully addressing traumatic histories through mediation and multiple points of view,” Iziko Museums said.
THE PUBLIC CAN SEE COLLECTIONS OF DINOSAUR ARTIFACTS, ROCK ART AND LIVE SPIDERS