Artefacts and exhibitions from the Albany Museum lined High Street on Tuesday. This was to celebrate International Museum Day which has been celebrated around the world on 18 May annually since 1977.
Every stall was manned by experts and volunteers from the different research departments of the museum, who answered questions from curious passers-by.
Artefacts and exhibitions from the Albany Museum lined High Street on Tuesday. This was to celebrate International Museum Day which has been celebrated around the world on 18 May annually since 1977.
Every stall was manned by experts and volunteers from the different research departments of the museum, who answered questions from curious passers-by.
“People who were walking past thought the displays were funny, but after we explained to them what they were all about, the left the stands more knowledgeable,” said Theunis du Toit of the taxidermy department.
A few interested residents who did not quite know the significance of having the artefacts displayed along High Street, enquired if the exhibitions were on sale.
“One lady said it was awesome when she saw the exhibitions. A few people suggested that we do more things like this as a museum,” said Boniswa Tana of the archaeology department.
The point of International Museum Day is to bring the museum out to the streets and closer to the people. “It was just an effort to show people what they can find in museums,” said Albany Museum Manager, Bongani Mgijima.
The theme for this year’s day was Museums and Social Harmony. Mgijima took the mobile museum bus with him to Burgersdorp to take part in the activities which were held there.
“This day tries to encourage social interaction and nation-building so it’s wonderful to be able to take artefacts out there and show people,” added Mgijima.
Communications and Marketing officer for the museum, Zongezile Matshoba was very happy and satisfied with the outcome of the day. “It was good for the community to have a glimpse of what is going on inside the museum.”
