This weekend, more specifically on Sunday, May 18, the city of Porto will once again celebrate International Museum Day. For this purpose, the local authority has created a free program with extended opening hours, covering 31 museums and museum spaces.
Among the initiatives planned are guided tours, performances, concerts, games, workshops, walks, talks and even a ‘Museuspaper’ (which we’ll discuss in more detail). An opportunity to enjoy the best of culture without paying anything.
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What is International Museum Day?
Before we share more information about the program, it’s important to reflect on the importance of this date. After all, International Museum Day has been celebrated every year since 1977, promoted by ICOM – the International Council of Museums (a UNESCO organization).
This thematic date was created with the aim of encouraging society to analyze and recognize the central role of museums in its development. Today, it continues to be celebrated not only in Portugal, but all over the world.
The theme of International Museum Day
This year’s theme is “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities”, inspired by the 27th ICOM General Conference in Dubai, which calls for an analysis of the role of museums as agents of change at a global level.
Some highlights of the program in Porto
Porto’s International Museum Day program is vast and can be consulted in full here. Free of charge and aimed at families, tourists and locals, we’d like to highlight some of the many activities planned.
Casa São Roque Art Center
- Guided tour of the garden and sculptures, 16h-17h (activity with prior registration on the Casa São Roquewebsite until May 16)
Biodiversity Gallery – Ciência Viva Center (MHNC-UP)
- Visit to the permanent exhibition, 10am-1pm and 2pm-8pm
MMIPO – Museum and Church of Misericórdia do Porto
- Free visit between 10am and 6pm
Porto Electric Car Museum (with various activities, these are just a few examples)
- Workshop: a-mass your bridge, 10h30-12h, for children over ten, prior registration required here
- Guided tour: Metaformosis on rails, 14h30-15h15, pre-registration required
- Workshop: Transformed image, 16h-16h30, prior registration required
- Guided tour and after-hours electric car ride, 6.30-8pm, registration here
Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art
- Artistic Workshop, 10am-7pm, limited to existing capacity
- Guided tour by the Youth Initiative Center (ADILO), 10am-1pm, registration on the day at reception
- Furious Reading, 5pm-7pm, limited to capacity
- Visit to the Sculptures in the Park, 8pm-9.30pm, register on the day at reception
International Museum Day with Museuspaper
For those who prefer other types of activities, such as a peddypaper, the program includes a very interactive experience called Museuspaper that challenges participants to solve puzzles and questions.
The initiative is divided into three different routes: Small Route (three museums), Big Route (six museums) and Mega Route (nine museums). Participants receive a passport, which can be picked up at any participating venue, and which will be stamped as they complete the proposed challenges.