IOJ offers free tours on International Museum Day

The Institute Of Jamaica (IOJ) will offer free tours to the public at its museums and galleries this weekend as part of a two-day cultural extravaganza in celebration of International Museum Day.

International Museum Day will be observed on Saturday, May 18, under the theme ‘Museums for Education and Research’ and will focus on the role of museums as cultural institutions shaping education and stimulating development. Each year, the event recognises the importance of museums to nation building and promotes their preservation.

The attractions will include newly mounted exhibitions, ‘The Uncommon African: An Exhibition of African Artefacts’ at Liberty Hall; ‘Journey To Independence’ at the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica/Jamaica Memory Bank; National Exhibition For Art In School Competition at the Simon Bolivar Cultural Centre; Curating Music: Building A National Collection by Jamaica Music Museum, with food, craft and entertainment by Kingston Night Market.

Also among the highlights are herbarium tours at the Natural History Museum of Jamaica, and open house and touch tours at National Museum Jamaica (NMJ).

The cultural showpiece will also feature career talks at Higholborn Street Basic School, conservation demonstrations at St. Peter & Paul Preparatory School, treasure hunts and sneak peaks at select museums plus traditional games at the Institute’s Junior Centres East Street and Portmore locations.

Director of NMJ, Dr. Jonathan Greenland, says the team has curated two days of discovery and fun-filled activity for patrons whom, he hopes, will be equally thrilled by the experience.

“Throughout our museums and galleries, we have prepared a wide array of intriguing spectacles everyone can partake of. Our team of curators and tour guides have tremendous experience catering to a variety of groups, and this time will be no different,” explained Greenland, who is also inviting the public to join the virtual tour of the ‘Set Girl’ exhibition on the company’s website, said.

He is encouraging persons to visit the IOJ to learn more about the range of tours and services of its nine divisions – National Museum Jamaica, National Gallery of Jamaica, Natural History Museum of Jamaica, Jamaica Music Museum, African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica, Jamaica Junior Centre, Simon Bolivar Cultural Institute, Liberty Hall: The Legacy of Marcus Garvey and its Programmes Coordination Unit.

The IOJ is an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment & Sport.