International Museum Day: Culture Minister stresses on heritage conservation

Kathmandu, May 18: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey has said that the tangible and intangible heritages existing in Nepal need to be managed well as they will gain international attention.     

Addressing a programme organized on the occasion of International Museum Day at the National Museum in Chhauni today, he mentioned that if the museum's management can be made efficient, history and culture lovers from around the world will be drawn to Nepal.     

Minister Pandey emphasized that the museum is an important medium for the new generation to observe the past and that it should be preserved for future generations to see.     

"The artifacts preserved in Nepal's museums are unique; museums can also serve as a means for their preservation in the face of the threat of history and culture being lost.     

The museum should be established as a centre for history and culture, and in the age of artificial intelligence, the museum should also be connected with AI,” he said.     

The Director General of the Department of Archaeology, Saubhagya Pradhananga, expressed his commitment to make the museum more organized by building structures that act as a bridge between the old and the new. He also informed that there are eight museums under the department.     

Dr. Suresh Surash Shrestha, head of the Culture Department of the Ministry, informed that this day is being celebrated in 37,000 museums across 158 countries today.     

As the establishment of museums in Nepal approaches its 100th year, he mentioned that it still seems to be in its initial stages.     

Noting that the Sustainable Development Goals also emphasize the importance of heritage conservation, he stated that there is a challenge to attract the younger generation who are beginning to move away from culture.     

The International Museum Day is celebrated on May 18 every year.     

According to UNESCO, this year’s IMD theme, “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities,” challenges museums to adapt to societal changes, ensuring their relevance in an evolving world.(RSS)