International Museum Day

On May 18, most countries around the world celebrate International Museum Day. This annual holiday was established in 1977 at the 11th General Conference of the International Council of Museums (ICOM). Its main goal was declared to be "further unifying the creative aspirations and efforts of museums and drawing the attention of the world's public to their activities."

The geography of International Museum Day celebrations is constantly expanding and now covers over 140 countries. On this day, most museums open their doors for free and gladly showcase their exhibits.

Since 1992, ICOM has introduced a new principle: each International Museum Day will have its own theme. For example, in 1996, it was "Collecting today for tomorrow", in 2002 - "Museums and Globalization", in 2009 - "Museums and Tourism", in 2018 - "Hyperconnected museums: New approaches, new public", and this year - "Museums, Education, and Research".

In its recent statement, ICOM emphasized: "Museums are dynamic educational centers that promote curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking... From art and history to science and technology, museums are vital spaces where education and research converge, shaping our understanding of the world."

Ukraine boasts about five thousand various museums: state-owned, municipal, departmental, and private. Over the years of independence, their number has more than doubled.

The large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine became a national tragedy, which did not spare the museums. According to the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, as of February 25 of this year, 113 museums and galleries were affected. Just a few examples: in the village of Ivankiv in Kyiv region, the occupiers destroyed the historical and local lore museum, which housed the works of the world-renowned artist Maria Pryimachenko. In the center of Chernihiv, as a result of barbaric shelling, the Museum of Ukrainian Antiquities - the house of Vasyl Tarnovskyi - was partially destroyed. Near Kharkiv, in the village of Skovorodynivka, the National Literary and Memorial Museum of Hryhorii Skovoroda was destroyed after a direct hit by a Russian missile.

The State Aviation Museum named after O.K. Antonov is an integral part of Ukraine's museum wealth. The war did not bypass it either - for security reasons, the museum had to be closed to visitors, as it is located in close proximity to the Kyiv (Zhuliany) airport. These measures turned out to be not in vain. For example, during one of the rocket attacks on the capital, the administrative building sustained damage.

But despite all the circumstances, museum staff did not abandon their beloved cause. They continue to care for their collection, engage in restoration and scientific work, and contribute to the information front of the war. Additionally, this spring, an exhibition of aviation weapons was opened in the hangar building of the National Aviation University (NAU), which can be visited by anyone interested.

The current theme of International Museum Day aligns perfectly with the activities of the State Aviation Museum, as it is part of NAU's structure and is involved in professional education, scientific work, and patriotic upbringing of students.