On May 18th, the Birmingham Museum of Art joins museums around the world in celebrating International Museum Day.

Museums tell the story of human existence by preserving and showcasing some of the most important creations from our history. Often, their collections are basic to the development of the very communities in which we live. These objects serve as functions and expressions of our natural and cultural heritage. International Museum Day 2011 will be an occasion for visitors to discover and rediscover individual and collective cultural evolution.

Celebrate International Museum Day at the Birmingham Museum of Art by participating in one of these fun events!

• 20% discount to all visitors on Museum Store purchases
• FREE dessert with the purchase of a meal at Oscar’s
• Special discounts on memberships—
       Individual, $45 
       Family, $65
       Contributor, $110
       Fellow, $275
  
• Special tours hourly from 10:15 – 4:15
      10:15 am: Samantha Kelly, Curator of Education
      11:15 am: Donald Wood, Senior Curator and Curator of Asian Art
      12:15 pm: Ron Platt, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art
      1:15 pm:   Emily Hanna, Curator of the Arts of Africa and the Americas
      2:15 pm: Jim Sokol, Board Member, Docent, and Collector
      3:15 pm: Gail Andrews, Museum Director
      4:15 pm: Tatum Preston, Museum Librarian and WebTeam Member
  

As always, Museum admission will be FREE!

The International Council of Museums (ICOM) established International Museum Day in 1977 to encourage public awareness on the role of museums in the development of society. Momentum has been rising unabated ever since. In 2010, International Museum Day garnered record-breaking participation with almost 30,000 museums hosting events in more than 95 countries.