#MuseumWeek: Seven days of appreciation for some of the best cultural institutions in the world
Powered by UNESCO, #MuseumWeek is basically encouragement for cultural institutions from all over the world to showcase their best works, from ancient artefacts, to paintings, to books and other interesting items, on social media.
The organisation have been running seven themes over seven days under seven hashtags, those being #FoodMW, #SportsMW, #MusicMW, #StoriesMW, #BooksMW (which is today), #TravelsMW and #HeritageMW.
Loads of institutions have been getting involved, with London’s National Gallery featuring heavily:
Archivist Richard continues the story of catalogues and the National Gallery, including a handwritten manuscript #BooksMW #MuseumWeek pic.twitter.com/NQyhvjclnH
— National Gallery (@NationalGallery) June 23, 2017
#MuseumWeek decided to dedicate this year’s endeavour to women, encouraging all contributions to try and include the “Women and Culture” theme. The organisation attributes this to their commitment to gender equality. This tweet from Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum emphasises the strong female presence behind the genius:
Vincent’s mother, Anna Carbentus-Van Gogh, taught all of her children to draw.
The Kingfisher 1884 Van Gogh #StoriesMW #WomenMW #MuseumWeek pic.twitter.com/Vx708J86na— Van Gogh Museum (@vangoghmuseum) June 22, 2017
This cultural event is particularly refreshing, as it exposes the huge world of mass social media to works that they may not have the opportunity or inclination to see.
It advertises some of the most important pieces of history to the world, boosting custom for cultural institutions and showcasing items to thousands more people than if it had merely stayed in a dusty museum.
It also creates a platform for lesser known establishments, like The Stained Glass Museum:
This beautiful late C17th piece shows St.Anne teaching the Virgin Mary to read! Made in the Netherlands, artist unknown #BooksMW #MuseumWeek pic.twitter.com/urUmgzwh6E
— Stained Glass Museum (@stainedglassmus) June 23, 2017
…or even those that we least expect, like Manchester United Football Club for example:
This collection of United memorabilia helps tell the story of our 1977 FA Cup final victory over Liverpool. #MuseumWeek #storiesMW pic.twitter.com/WD9eXQs8IH
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) June 22, 2017
Standing proud for culture everywhere, London’s institutions have been some of the biggest contributors:
St Paul's library is one of the Cathedral's treasures, holding a great collection of theological and other texts. #MuseumWeek #BooksMW pic.twitter.com/LhaPoQQafG
— St Paul's Cathedral (@StPaulsLondon) June 23, 2017
#DidYouKnow the Museum used to have a guard cat called Mike? More surprising Museum stories on our blog: https://t.co/HedbJKMRcN #storiesMW pic.twitter.com/uxZqgHndlI
— British Museum (@britishmuseum) June 22, 2017
This distinctive book was made from a 175-year-old tree which stood in the Bank’s garden until 1933. #BooksMW #MuseumWeek #BoElibrary pic.twitter.com/dOBZls4Y8N
— BankofEngland Museum (@boemuseum) June 23, 2017
So if you fancy a dose of culture this week, you need travel no further than your nearest device! #MuseumWeek truly puts history at your fingertips.
Here are some more highlights from the week so far:
Need ideas for dinner tonight? Why not try Ernest Hemingway's recipe for hamburgers? #foodMW #MuseumWeek pic.twitter.com/pSy0wRB0Xj
— JFK Library (@JFKLibrary) June 19, 2017
131,000 women prisoners were registered in Auschwitz—82,000 Jews, 31,000 Poles, 11,000 Roma, and 7,000 others #WomenMW #MuseumWeek pic.twitter.com/Ic7dJbUrnf
— Auschwitz Memorial (@AuschwitzMuseum) June 19, 2017
Attic white-ground lekythos with images of women musicians, attributed to the Achilles Painter, 470-430 BC #MusicMW #WomenMW pic.twitter.com/6AtQP884jD
— Ashmolean Museum (@AshmoleanMuseum) June 21, 2017
Legend has it these stones imprison a milk-stealing witch! https://t.co/FacyzPGKLN #storiesMW pic.twitter.com/1P1KxZlpqH
— English Heritage (@EnglishHeritage) June 22, 2017
In 1942, the Canadian Women’s Army Corps established the first all-female military pipe band.#MusicMW #WomenMW #StoriesMW pic.twitter.com/vNMHnxGBWS
— Canadian War Museum (@CanWarMuseum) June 21, 2017
Plywood is the material that started the skateboarding revolution #SportsMW https://t.co/wSxeQ8Qseg pic.twitter.com/2pOLPbjbHZ
— V&A (@V_and_A) June 20, 2017