A message from the OMA on International Museum Day
International Museum Day has been celebrated on May 18th by the International Council of Museums since 1977, and this year again provides an opportunity to recognise the value that our institutions provide in creating better communities and a better province for us all.
This year's theme is "The Future of Museums: Recover and Reimagine", and we are reminded about the drastic impacts that our museums have seen and the meaningful changes we have made to emerge from unprecedented times with stronger, more inclusive, and more connected institutions.
The OMA's May is Museum Month / Mai, Mois des Musées initiative has been showcasing the multitude of experiences that Ontario's museums offer since 2000, with this year highlighting the variety of museums and online experiences found across the province.
Museums across the province have reimagined their ways of working with and engaging the public. The foundational work of our sector, through Ontario's Museums 2025, Inclusion 2025: A Practitioner's Guide to Inclusive Museums, and the Indigenous Collections Symposium most notably, has provided us with steps towards these important outcomes.
The necessary shifts museums have made to offer programs and experiences digitally, where possible, are a continuation of the trend for more online and connected work that began long before the pandemic. Data from before March 2020 showed that Ontario's museum websites were welcoming 112.8 million visitors per year--4 visits per second! These virtual connections have demonstrated their value over the past year in ways we could never have imagined.
Our sector has exhibited new heights of creativity, innovation, resilience, and dedication. The skills we all have built and our pride in each other will continue to serve us well.
We look forward to the days ahead where museums across Ontario can fully welcome the public through their doors and again achieve nearly 20 million in-person visits a year! Ontario's museums will remain a vibrant and vital part of every community.
We're inviting our communities to rediscover Ontario museums and the reimagined experiences and virtual connections they've developed.
Our team at the OMA is proud to work with Ontario's museums and will continue to amplify your successes and concerns. We know that museums are a key part of what makes our communities distinct and vibrant places to live, work, visit and invest! |
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