Visit a museum and learn about your world

ALTHOUGH they are often seen as buildings that store old furniture and artefacts, which are full of dry history, museums can be places of wonder and fun.

In 1977, the International Council of Museums started celebrating International Museum Day on May 18 as a way to allow museums to showcase the important work they do.

As we celebrate International Museum Month Paarl Museum, in partnership with the Afrikaans Language Museum and Monument, is presenting educational programmes to schools in the area and from Cape Town.

The programmes are linked to this year’s International Museum Day theme Power of Museums.

Paarl Museum manager Elvira Johannes said an example was the

history of slaves and some street names in the area that were named after people who were slaves.

“On Wednesday, the museum also had a speech contest for Grade 10 and Grade 11 English first additional language pupils.

“This helps them to gain confidence in public speaking and learn about fellow pupils’ views on the topics,” she said.

The museum is on what was initially a farm and has been owned by various people since 1699.

“During the late 1920s, Gymnasium Secondary School used this building as a boys’ hostel, until Paarl’s Town Council purchased it.

In 1939, the building was renovated and opened as the Huguenot Museum and, in 1940, it was officially proclaimed.

“The name was changed to the Old Parsonage Museum in 1969 and on March 1 1995, it was renamed as Paarl Museum.

“The theme of the museum is local history. Paarl Museum is a province-aided museum and was proclaimed a provincial heritage institution in 1940,” said Johannes.

| SUPPLIED PAARL Museum is on what used to be a farm.