Basseterre, St. Kitts – May 16, 2017 (The St. Christopher National Trust): In keeping with the tradition observed across the world, the National Museum on St. Kitts will be joining its regional and international counterparts in observing International Museum Day on Thursday (May 18, 2017) under the theme “Museums and contested histories: Saying the unspeakable in museums.”
The theme is designed to look 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.
The objective of International Museum Day is to raise awareness of how important museums are in the development of society. Participation is growing among museums all over the world. In 2016 IDM garnered record-breaking participation with more than 35,000 museums hosting events in some 145 countries.
As part of its own collections, the National Museum features a number of exhibits that speak to unspeakable aspects of the nation’s history including enslavement, deplorable post-Emancipation living conditions and the struggles of the workers’ movement.
The National Museum will on International Museum Day on Thursday (May 18, 2017) waive admission for all visitors. The Museum is located in the St. Christopher National Trust building (Old Treasury) on the Bay Road in Basseterre. Opening hours are 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
International Museum Day was established in 1977 by the International Council of Museums (ICOM).
