Since 1977 the 18th of May is celebrated worldwide as International Museum Day (IMD). This day is an occasion to raise awareness on how important museums are in the development of society. Over the years participation in the celebrations of International Museum Day has grown impressively. Around 30,000 museums from approximately 120 countries join in the celebrations with the hosting of special events. This year’s theme, as set by the International Council of Museums (ICOM), is “Museum Collections make Connections”. The European Night of Museums is celebrated annually on the weekend closest to IMD.
The Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Communications and Works, announces that, within the framework of both occasions, all its Museums will be open with free entrance on Saturday 17th 2014 (see below time-tables for each Museum). The following events will also take place:
THURSDAY, 15 MAY 2014
‘Pallas’ Theatre
(Rigainis and Arsinoes Streets, Pafos Gate, old Lefkosia)
08:00 First screening of documentary on the Cyprus Museum (produced by the Pedagogical Institute in collaboration with the Department of Antiquities)
FRIDAY, 16 MAY 2014
Local Museum of Traditional Embroidery and Silver-smith Work, Lefkara (House of Patsalos, Lefkara village, tel.: 24342326)
20:30 Musical evening with Philippos Demetriou and Giorgos Koutsoftas (Organizers: Cultural Society of Lefkara in collaboration with the Department of Antiquities). For reservations: tel.: 24342422. 5 euro with free drink.
SATURDAY, 17 MAY 2014
Cyprus Museum
(1 Museum Street, Lefkosia, tel.: 22865854, www.mcw.gov.cy/da)
09:00 – 23:00 The Cyprus Museum will be open and entry will be free.
11:00 – 12:00 Guided tour of the museum (in Greek)*
16:00 – 17:00 Guided tour of the museum (in English)*
17:00 – 18:00 Guided tour of the museum (in Greek)* 18:00 – 22:00 ‘Excavation Movements’ (performance in the Museum, choreography: Pascal Caron)
19:00 Opening of exhibition ‘The Body: lived experiences in ancient Cyprus’, ‘Curating Body’: parallel exhibition in the Cyprus Museum with works of artist Maria Loizidou
20:30 – 23:00 Reception in the Museum gardens
*All tours will be given by Archaeological Officers of the Department of Antiquities
SATURDAY, 17 MAY 2014
Local Museum of Ancient Idalion
(Idalion tel.: 22444818)
Opening Hours: 10.00-18.00 16:00
Guided tour (in Greek) of the Museum by an Archaeological Officer of the Department of Antiquities
SUNDAY 18 MAY 2014
Cyprus Museum
(1 Museum Street, Lefkosia, tel.: 22865854, www.mcw.gov.cy/da)
10:00 – 13:00 The Cyprus Museum will be open and entry will be free.
10:30 – 11:30 Guided tour (in Greek) of the exhibition “Curating Body” by artist Maria Loizidou.
SUNDAY 18 MAY 2014
Ethnological Museum (The Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios Mansion)
(20 Patriarchou Gregoriou Street, old Nicosia, tel.: 22305316, www.mcw.gov.cy/da)
18:30-19:30 Paramythies
«Once upon a time…»: Storytelling and music for children and adults (in Greek)
19:30 Guided tour (in Greek) of the Museum by an Archaeological Officer of the Department of Antiquities
20:30 Reception in the Museum gardens. Live music with Katie Economidou.
MONDAY, 19 MAY 2014
Local Museum of Kourion
(Episkopi village, tel.: 25932750, 25932753)
18:30 – 19:30 Guided Tour of the Museum by an Archaeological Officer of the Department of Antiquities
19:30 – 19.45 -Welcome note by the President of the Episkopi Local Council Department of Antiquities
-Address by the Acting Director of the Department of Antiquities
19.45 – 20.05 Lecture titled “The occupied religious monuments of Cyprus and the efforts for preserving them”, by Dr. Christodoulos Hadjichristodoulou, byzantinologist.
20:05 – 21:05 Eastern/Greek Music Concert by “MAKAM ENSEMBLE”
FRIDAY, 23 MAY 2014
Pafos District Museum
(Griva Digeni Av., tel.: 26306215)
(In collaboration with the Cultural movement ex-Artis and “Pafos 2017” European Capitan of Culture)
17:00-19:00: “Spending an afternoon in our city’s archaeological museum with our parents and grandparents” (Museum educational program for children, enabled by museum education professionals from the Ministry of Education and Culture)
19:30-20:30: Guided tour by Archaeological Officers of the Department of Antiquities
21:00-23:00: Reception in the Museum gardens with music (Pafos Musical Lyceum)
SATURDAY, 24 MAY 2014
Pafos District Museum
(Griva Digeni Av., tel.: 26306215)
(In collaboration with the Cultural movement ex-Artis and “Pafos 2017” European Capitan of Culture)
9:30-13:30: Art workshop for children in the Museum gardens (led by artists Katerina Foukara and Arsenty Lysenkov)
SATURDAY, 17TH MAY 2014 (CELEBRATIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY): MUSEUM OPENING HOURS
LEFKOSIA DISTRICT
Cyprus Museum 9:00 – 23.00
Ethnological Museum (The Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios Mansion) 10:00 – 18:00
Local Museum of Ancient Idalion 10:00 – 18:00
Fikardou Rural Museum 10:00 – 18:00
LARNAKA DISTRICT
Larnaka District Museum 10:00 – 18:00
Larnaka Castle 10:00 – 18:00
Museum of Traditional Embroidery and Silver-Smith work, Lefkara 10:00 – 18:00
LEMESOS DISTRICT
Lemesos District Museum 10:00 – 18:00
Cyprus Medieval Museum (Lemesos Castle) 9:00 – 18:00
Local Kourion Museum (Episkopi) 10:00 – 18:00
PAFOS DISTRICT
Pafos District Museum 10:00 – 18:00
Local Museum of Palaipafos (Kouklia) 8:30 – 19:30
Local Museum of Marion-Arsinoe (Polis Chrysochous) 10:00 – 18:00
Folk Art Museum (Geroskipou) 9:30 – 18:00
