Many museums across Da Nang have planned to organise a wide range of engrossing activities and experience programmes for the public, especially younger generations, in celebration of the International Museum Day (May 18).

The purpose of the programmes is to raise awareness about the value of museums as means of important cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures, and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples, as well as encourage both locals and visitors to learn about the city’s history and culture.

An artist guiding students to print Dong Ho paintings at the Da Nang Fine Arts Museum. Photo: X.D

Wide array of fascinating activities to be held

Themed ‘The Power of Museums’, this year’s International Museum Day focuses on exploring the potential of museum in creating positive changes in the community  through three dimensions: the power of sustainability, the power of innovation in digitisation and accessibility, and the power of building community through education.

In response to this year’s International Museum Day, museums in the city have taken the initiative to deploy many experience activities and programmes for the public to participate in.

Specifically, between May 19 and 22, the Museum of Da Nang will host a number of interesting activities, including an arts exhibition entitled ‘Heading out to sea’, an orchid festival, the launching of ‘playground for children’ and ‘Children's bookcase’, and a talk show about decorative arts in Da Nang’s communal village houses through mascot-related projects.

Particularly, visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to not only learn about typical culture, history, and architecture of fishing villages in the city, but also have realistic experience with net knitting and participate in some folk games, and a ‘Surf Dance’ dance contest.

Meanwhile, an experience programme for children aged 6-15 years will take place from May 17 - 20 at the Da Nang Fine Arts Museum.

Participating children will have the chance to visit the arts spaces of the museum, learn about how to print Dong Ho folk paintings, and participate in a freestyle drawing contest.

As noted by our reporter, the programme attracts a large number of children, thereby contributing to bringing fine arts closer to the younger generation.

Le Nhat Bao, a student from the UKA - UK Academy Da Nang expressed her happiness at printing a Dong Ho painting by herself.

“Thanks to the enthusiastic guidance of the museum's painters, I feel that the printing and painting are not too difficult” added Bao.

Likewise, the Museum of Cham Sculpture has coordinated with the Thanh Khe District-based Nguyen Duy Hieu Junior High School to organise an online heritage education programme for more than 120 6^th graders.

Previously, the museum had partnered with a number of schools to organise an online education programme for hundreds of pupils, thereby helping them learn about and experience the museum’s display spaces and the My Son Sanctuary. via a virtual tour app.

Affirming value of museums

Museums play a crucial role in preserving and promoting local cultural values. In order to improve operational efficiency of museums, Da Nang has carried out many new programmes with the aim to engage the community in preserving and promoting cultural heritage values.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Trinh, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Fine Arts Museum, remarked that the annual International Museum Day was an opportunity for professionals to create themed activities.

With the theme of "The Power of Museums", her museum will focus on giving aesthetic orientation and good values ​​for younger generations. Therefore, since the beginning of the year, the museum has carried out many exhibition activities to promote the value of arts heritages, encourage the spirit of creativity, and create beauty for society.

Deputy Director Trinh informed “In late May, the museum plans to host the 2^nd ‘Raising Dreams’ exhibition for disabled and orphaned children. In addition, a host of exciting activities will take place at the museum for disadvantaged children in the city in a bid to help them overcome difficulties to become useful citizens in society”.

Director of the Museum of Da Nang Huynh Dinh Quoc Thien underlined that this year’s International Museum Day was an opportunity for museums to prove their important role in transforming the world around.

He emphasised the Museum of Da Nang would organises a series of interesting events and activities to celebrate the special day. The arts exhibition entitled ‘Heading out to sea’ is one of the highlights at the museum.

“In the time to come, the museum will continue to refresh itself by hosting many fascinating activities to educate the community to promote cultural values and heritages in the city. In which, some exhibitions on issues of life such as culture of Da Nang wet markets, and changes in the life of the Cotu ethnic minority group in Da Nang, will be held”, noted Mr. Thien.

Currently, the Museum of Da Nang is on way to develop online teaching programmes associated with local history and culture.

It is expected that in August 2022, a programme about the city’s traditional crafts will be piloted in schools citywide, unveiled Director Thien.

He underlined the importance of the programme in educating people, especially younger generations, about sustainable development and bringing positive changes in the community.

Reporting by XUAN DUNG - Translating by M.DUNG