Preparing for Museum Day
By Azaraimy HH 

An estimated 1.5 million individual members of the World Federation of Friends of Museum (WFFM) in 35 countries - representing 17 Active Member National Federations, 25 single association and individual members who are friends, volunteers and museum benefactors - will celebrate the International Museum Day (IMD) 2003 on May 18. The Brunei Museum, under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, will celebrate this important day on May 19. It is expected to take place at the museum in Kota Batu. (Last year's celebration took place at the National Archive Building in Jalan Menteri Besar).

The theme for this year is "Museums and Friends," said the Department of Brunei Museum, added that "without friends we will be lonely."

WFFM is a global volunteer body, established in 1975, with the aim to assist in the development of museums around the globe.

The Department of Brunei Museums is a member of the working committee advisor of the International Council of Museums (ICOM).

With headquarter in Paris, ICOM formulated IMD, which Brunei has been participating in since 2001.

Two main official launching ceremonies are scheduled to take place in the Sultanate on IMD this year: the launch of a new book entitled "Ragam Hias Batu Nisan dan Makam" (Standard Designs of Tombs and Tombstones) and the official opening ceremony of the Museum Discovery Hall (MDH).

MDH is added dimension to the museum, in terms of services, designed as part of a proactive strategy to bring the public closer to the establishment.

The discovery hall, which was introduced April 9 this year to mainly primary and secondary students, provides services in various aspects of academic programmes, educational briefings and workshops.

The guest of honour of the event, Dato Paduka Hj Dani Hj Ibrahim is expected to become the first member of the Museum Discovery Hall, said the Brunei Museum yesterday.

To mark the International Museum Day, the department will put forward various activities such as quiz contests from May 19 until May 25.

Among the activities planned out are a seminar with a guest speaker from Malaysia and a programme called "Written History, Ancient Experience".

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin