The Ministry of Culture celebrates International Museum Day under the theme "The Future of Museums in Ever Changing Communities"

The 16 state museums of the Ministry of Culture are joining in the commemoration of International Museum Day to be held on Sunday 18 May and the 21st European Night of Museums to be held on Saturday 17 May.

Under the slogan "The Future of Museums in Ever Changing Communities", the state museums have prepared a special programme which will run throughout the week, especially on Saturday and Sunday. Some museums will offer their activities during their usual opening hours, while others will extend their opening hours during the night of Saturday 17 May.

In addition, the Spanish Cultural Heritage Institute has joined in the celebrations and is organising a guided tour on Wednesday 21st with prior registration to visit its head office, in the building known as the 'crown of thorns', designed by the architect Fernando Higueras. The public will be able to learn first-hand about the work of the restoration of cultural property carried out by its professionals.

Family activities and guided tours

Activities aimed at children and families are some of the protagonists of this special programme of state museums. The National Archaeological Museum offers a workshop to bring archaeology closer to the youngest visitors; the Museum of America organises the great American game; the National Museum of Decorative Arts hosts a game of clues; and the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology. ARQVA programmes storytelling and workshops to learn about Roman skylights.

On these days of celebration, the museums will also offer the possibility of visiting the corners usually reserved for professionals. During this week the public will have the opportunity to visit the restoration workshops and scientific instruments of the National Archaeological Museum and the storerooms of the National Museum of Roman Art; take guided tours of the temporary exhibitions of the National Museum of Decorative Arts or learn the secrets of the most emblematic pieces in its collection; visit the Museum of America with a guided tour or take a journey through poetry at the El Greco Museum, to learn more about the painter's work in Toledo.

Dance, music and theatre

Dance and music also have their place in the International Museum Day programme with performances as varied as 'Del alma y la sed. Un espectáculo original de palabras y ritmos latinoamericanos' by Javier Pelayo at the Museum of America; 'Apolo, arte y mito' at the National Archaeological Museum; and musical recitals and dance performances at the National Museum of Ceramics and Sumptuary Arts 'González Martí'. For its part, the National Romanticism Museum, in addition to the concert by the duo ArTeil Ensemble, will also organise 'Un lance de honor', a demonstration of historical fencing.

In addition, evening concerts will be held on Saturday 17th at the National Sculpture Museum and the Sephardic Museum. For their part, visitors to the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology will be able to enjoy the dance show associated with the exhibition "Vera y Victoria", as part of the Cultura Orgullosa programme; and the National Museum of Ceramics and Sumptuary Arts 'Gonzalez Martí, will offer a dramatised visit.

Once again this year, the Altamira Museum will display all the magic of the Neocave illuminated with marrow lamps, those used by the people who lived in Altamira thousands of years ago.

European Night of Museums: Extraordinary night-time opening

One of the attractions and exceptional proposals organised by the state museums on the occasion of the 21st European Night of Museums is the extraordinary night-time opening.

On Saturday 17th in Madrid, the Cerralbo Museum extends its opening hours until 8pm and the National Museum of Decorative Arts until 9pm.

And in the evening it will be possible to visit the National Museum of Anthropology, which will celebrate its 150th anniversary with music, and the Costume Museum which, for the occasion, has prepared activities such as a treasure hunt, visits to the restoration workshop, a charleston workshop and a creative space for children until midnight in Madrid.

Also open until midnight in Toledo, the Sephardic Museum; in Santillana del Mar, the National Museum and Research Centre of Altamira; in Mérida, the National Museum of Roman Art and in Valencia, the National Museum of Ceramics and Sumptuary Arts 'González Martí'.

The two museums in Valladolid, Cervantes' House Museum and National Sculpture Museum, as well as the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology. in Cartagena (Murcia), will extend their opening hours until one o'clock in the morning, allowing visitors to enjoy an unusual nocturnal visit to their collections.

The 16 state museums under the direct management of the Ministry of Culture are:

Cartagena (Murcia)

National Museum of Underwater Archaeology. ARQVA

Madrid

National Archaeological Museum

The Garment Museum. Centre for Ethnological Heritage Research Sorolla Museum

Cerralbo Museum

National Museum of Decorative Arts National Romanticism Museum

Museum of America

National Museum of Anthropology

Mérida (Extremadura)

National Museum of Roman Art

Santillana del Mar (Cantabria):

Altamira National Museum and Research Centre

Toledo (Castilla-La Mancha)

El Greco Museum Sephardic Museum

Valencia

National Museum of Ceramics and Sumptuary Arts 'González Martí'.

Valladolid (Castilla y León)

National Sculpture Museum Cervantes' House Museum

Non official translation