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International Museum Day 2010, Hong Kong (IMD 2010, HK) will be held this weekend (May 15 and 16). All museums under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and other participating local museums will organise open days on May 15 and 16. Admission to these museums will be free, allowing the public to better understand the functions and missions of museums through various exhibitions, activities, facilities and services.
Thirty-two cultural institutes will join the open days on May 15 and 16. They are the Hong Kong Museum of History and its branches, Hong Kong Museum of Art and its branch, Hong Kong Heritage Museum and its branches, Hong Kong Science Museum (except the Special Exhibition Hall), Hong Kong Space Museum (except the Stanley Ho Space Theatre), Hong Kong Film Archive, Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre and Ping Shan Tang Clan Gallery cum Heritage Trail Visitors Centre, Art Promotion Office, Museum of Ethnology, Tung Wah Museum, Po Leung Kuk Museum, University Museum and Art Gallery of The University of Hong Kong, Stephen Hui Geological Museum of The University of Hong Kong, Art Museum of the Institute of Chinese Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Dr & Mrs Hung Hin Shiu Museum of Chinese Medicine of Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Museum of Education, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong Planning and Infrastructure Exhibition Gallery, The Hong Kong Racing Museum, Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum, Lions Nature Education Centre of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Tao Heung Museum of Food Culture, and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre (closed on May 16).
Apart from the museums' open days, a variety of educational programmes and activities such as guided tours of exhibitions, lectures, workshops, demonstrations and video programmes will be held by various museums during IMD 2010, HK. Highlights include "Ethnictricity", the first ever stand-up "dramedy", and a Fun Cultures Bazaar to be held by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum on Sunday (May 16).
"Ethnictricity: A multi-ethnic, multicultural 'dramedy'" is about an extraordinary couple who decides to tie the knot, resulting in a series of conflicts, misunderstandings and integration of different cultures. Featuring a multi-ethnic cast, the drama uses stand-up comedy to transcend ethnic boundaries, inviting the audience laugh and experience the integration of different cultures. In "Fun Cultures Bazaar: a feast of ethnic colours", the museum's courtyard will provide the setting for a multicultural carnival and bazaar that showcases the traditional arts and cultures of different ethnic groups, who are invited to gather for a multicultural feast. The activities include Sichuan Bian Lian (changing faces), Bollywood dance, Western magic show, Filipino traditional music, Korean folk dance, game booths and booths for tasting ethnic delicacies, and "Happy Snaps: We are One Big Family". All Chinese and other ethnic groups in Hong Kong are invited to join.
The Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum will organise "Making Your Own Museum Badge" on May 15 and 16, while the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre of the Art Promotion Office will hold a "Silk-screen Printing Demonstration Workshop", conducted in Cantonese.
The public can also visit the Science Museum's latest exhibition, "Biodiversity in Hong Kong". Through the display of more than 30 live specimens and illustrative graphic panels, visitors can learn about the wildlife commonly found in Hong Kong. They can also learn about the structures of insects, classify animals and vote for their favourite wetland animals through interactive exhibits.
Those who have not yet visited the "Lofty Integrity: Donation of Works by Wu Guanzhong" exhibition should take this opportunity to view the 50 masterpieces by the great artist Wu Guanzhong at the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Visitors can also get to know the 600-year history of Hong Kong's coastal defence by visiting the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence in Shau Kei Wan, where a number of valuable military relics and historic sites are preserved.
Coming to its 10th year, IMD Hong Kong is a major cultural event organised by the LCSD in support of the International Council of Museums, which designated May 18 as the annual IMD in 1978. IMD aims to promote the activities and services provided by museums and interact with people from all walks of life, to help raise public awareness of museums' functions and missions in society.
"Museums for Social Harmony" is the theme of this year's IMD. It is hoped that through activities and services organised by participating institutes, the public will be encouraged to visit the museums, so as to foster goodwill, enhance peaceful coexistence and help build a harmonious society.
Institutions participating in IMD 2010, HK are: Hong Kong Museum of History and its branches, Hong Kong Museum of Art and its branch, Hong Kong Heritage Museum and its branches, Hong Kong Science Museum, Hong Kong Space Museum, Hong Kong Film Archive, Central Conservation Section under the LCSD, Antiquities and Monuments Office and its Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre and Ping Shan Tang Clan Gallery cum Heritage Trail Visitors Centre, Art Promotion Office, Museum of Ethnology, Tung Wah Museum, Po Leung Kuk Museum, University Museum and Art Gallery of The University of Hong Kong, Stephen Hui Geological Museum of The University of Hong Kong, Art Museum of the Institute of Chinese Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Dr & Mrs Hung Hin Shiu Museum of Chinese Medicine of Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Museum of Education, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong Planning and Infrastructure Exhibition Gallery, The Hong Kong Racing Museum, Hong Kong Correctional Services Museum, Lions Nature Education Centre of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Tao Heung Museum of Food Culture, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre, Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, Hong Kong Maritime Museum, and Police Museum.
Programme details of IMD 2010, HK are now available on the LCSD's website, www.lcsd.gov.hk.
Ends/Thursday, May 13, 2010
Issued at HKT 11:02
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