International Museum Day has been celebrated all over the world since 1977. Each year, a theme is decided on by the Advisory Committee. The event provides the opportunity for museum professionals to meet the public and alert them to the challenges that museums face if they are to be - as in the ICOM definition of museums - "an institution in the service of society and of its development".
The choosen topic is also discussed in ICOM News, a review of the related activities is produced and made available to members of ICOM.

It has been recommended that this celebration be held each year on the 18th of May (Given that each country has its own specific traditions and conditions, we recommend that members organise their events around 18th of May), in the spirit of the motto: « Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, co-operation and peace among peoples »

The ICOM Secretariat invites all members to celebrate International Museum Day around 18th May.
Suggested activities to celebrate this event.

THEMES:

2004 "Intangible Cultural Heritage"
2003 "Museums and Friends"
2002 "Museums and Globalisation"
2001 "Museums: building community"
2000 "Museums for Peace and Harmony in Society"
1999 "Pleasures of discovery"
1997-1998 "The fight against illicit traffic of cultural property"
1996 "Collecting today for tomorrow"
1995 "Response and responsibility"
1994 "Behind the Scenes in Museums"
1993 "Museums and Indigenous Peoples"
1992 "Museums and Environment"

Only in 1992 it was decided to have a theme for the International Museum Day

International Museum Day is made possible by the Réunion des musées nationaux (RMN) and the Direction des musées de France (DMF).