'2021 Museum and Art Gallery Week' Enjoyed at Home, Streets, and Daily Life to be Held on the 14th

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 3rd that it will hold the ‘2021 Museum and Art Gallery Week (hereafter referred to as Museum Week)’ from the 14th to the 23rd.

The Ministry has been conducting Museum Week annually since 2012 to mark ‘International Museum Day (May 18).’ Especially this year, in response to new environmental changes such as COVID-19 and the 4th Industrial Revolution, it has prepared a time to explore the roles and functions that museums and art galleries can contribute to future society.

The main programs include ▲‘The Future of Museums: Recovery and Reimagining’ ▲‘Myugungmyujin (Stay-at-home Museum and Art Gallery Tour)’ ▲‘Museum on the Street’ ▲‘Museum Kkuk (Museum and Art Gallery Stamp Tour)’ and others.

For ‘The Future of Museums: Recovery and Reimagining,’ 21 programs were selected through a call for related programs under this theme. During this year’s Museum Week, various related programs on ‘new cultural experiences using technology,’ ‘social solidarity,’ and ‘healing and recovery’ can be experienced nationwide.

‘Myugungmyujin’ is a program where museums and art galleries upload diverse content containing their own endless stories on social media to communicate with visitors. In an era when face-to-face communication is difficult, people can experience museums and art galleries from home. Nationwide museums and art galleries will conduct programs based on seven themes (secrets, collections, souvenirs, events, spaces, etc.) during this Museum Week. Visitors who visit the museums and art galleries that uploaded the content will receive commemorative cards, and those who share their visiting experience on their social media (SNS) will be entered into a draw to receive souvenirs.

‘Museum on the Street’ is a corner where collections that could only be seen in museums and art galleries can be viewed on the street under the theme of ‘social bonding and healing through culture and arts.’ At Seoul Square, Daegu Lotte Department Store, and COEX Crown Media, visitors can enjoy media facade videos that reinterpret museum and art gallery collections in a modern way.

‘Museum Kkuk’ is also prepared for visitors to actively explore hidden museum and art gallery spots nationwide. By visiting about 100 museums and art galleries nationwide equipped with QR codes and collecting stamps by finding up to five QR codes per institution, visitors can receive commemorative gifts through a draw according to their level. Depending on the number of stamps collected, visitors can become Mureeni (8 stamps), Museonyeon (13 stamps), Mureuni (20 stamps), Mujangnim (30 stamps), or Mubaksa (45 stamps), and receive various souvenirs ranging from stationery gift sets (postcards, clip pens, etc.) to replicas of the Ban-gasayusang statue.

More detailed information about Museum Week can be found on the official website.

A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism official stated, “This year’s Museum Week was planned to show that museums and art galleries always offer comfort to us through engaging participation programs in these times when communication is cut off due to COVID-19,” adding, “We hope that museums and art galleries nationwide will find new values and meanings through this week and be able to try even more new attempts.”