IMD 2010

Museums for Social Harmony

The theme of International Museum Day 2010 was Museums for Social Harmony. Harmony is a concept significant for both Humanity and for representing Eastern cultures. The basis of social harmony lies in dialogue, tolerance, coexistence and development, based on pluralism, difference, competition and creativity. Fundamentally social harmony is "to agree but to stand out, to look for common ground but to keep the difference."

In 2010, International Museum Day garnered record-breaking participation with almost 30,000 museums hosting events in more than 95 countries.

On Saturday 16 May, 2010, the 6th edition of the European Night of Museums announced International Museum Day. The Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD), whose members are based in the US, Canada and Mexico, promoted and took part in International Museum Day 2010. AAMD’s participation helped to highlight the important role that art museums play within their specific communities. Alissandra Cummins, President of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), welcomed the participation of the AAMD in International Museum Day. “This initiative fits in perfectly with the theme Museums for Social Harmony, where each culture interacts with and respects the other with a view to creating dialogue, tolerance, coexistence and development,” she said.