"The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities" IMD 2025
CIMAM Supports International Museum Day 2025, "The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities".
International Museum Day (IMD) is an initiative established by the International Council of Museums (ICOM)in 1977, to highlight the important role museums play in cultural exchange, community engagement, and social development. Celebrated each year on May 18, IMD brings together thousands of museums worldwide in a shared moment of reflection, creativity, and action.
In 2025, IMD will be celebrated under the theme: "The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities". (“L’avenir des musées au sein des communautés en constante évolution” / “El futuro de los museos en comunidades en constante cambio”).
As the world undergoes a profound transformation, museums are increasingly recognised as vital institutions for resilience, innovation, and inclusivity. They are dynamic platforms that extend beyond preservation, actively contributing to social progress, community cohesion, and global sustainability.
This year’s IMD theme also aligns with the upcoming ICOM General Conference, taking place in Dubai in November 2025, where the museum community will further explore how institutions can adapt, evolve, and lead in response to global challenges.
A Call to Action: Celebrate, Participate, Share
On May 18th, ICOM calls on cultural institutions, policymakers, and communities around the world to come together in recognising and harnessing the transformative power of museums.
How to Get Involved:
Museums are encouraged to take action by:
- Advocating for museums as agents of positive change
- Fostering closer relationships with their communities
- Promoting cultural exchange as a driver for peace and cooperation
- Implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
IMD2025 highlights the following SDGs:
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Raise Awareness
- Inform local, regional, and national authorities about your IMD activities and why they are relevant to the public.
Share Internationally
- Gain visibility by adding your events to ICOM’s Interactive Map and sharing them through social media and your institutional platforms.
Build Partnerships
- Collaborate with schools, associations, libraries, museums, and other cultural organisations to extend the reach of your programming.
Engage Audiences
- Use this opportunity to honour your visitors through meaningful, inclusive, and context-responsive activities.
Add Your Event to the ICOM Interactive Map
- Planning an event for International Museum Day? Share it on ICOM’s global map to reach wider audiences, both in-person and online.
>> Complete this form to be included.
About International Museum Day
Established by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in 1977, International Museum Day is a global moment to celebrate and promote the role of museums as institutions that enrich cultures, encourage dialogue and mutual understanding, and support cooperation and peace among peoples.
About ICOM
The International Council of Museums (ICOM) is an international non-governmental organization representing over 57,000 museum professionals in 129 countries and territories. ICOM leads global efforts to support museums as spaces of education, cultural heritage, and social transformation.
CIMAM is proud to support this ICOM initiative and encourages its network to actively participate in International Museum Day 2025, and to continue working toward more inclusive, responsive, and community-centered museum practices.