International Museums Day 2011

Each year since 1977, the International Council of Museums organizes International Museum Day (IMD), a special moment for the global museum community - on or about May 18. Each year, the Advisory Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) defines a specific theme for the International Museum Day. The theme for 2011 was "Museums and Memory: Objects Tell Your Story". The weekend before the Museum Day is the traditional time for Museum Nights, when museums all over the world keep their doors open till early in the morning, offering special exhibitions and programming.

The Cafesjian Center for the Arts was participating in International Museum Day celebrations for the second time since its opening in 2009. Special programming was planned at the Cafesjian Center for the Arts for the International Museum Day on May 18. In keeping with this year's theme, "Museums and Memory", the Cafesjian Center for the Arts presented an exhibition titled "Cascade in Memory". This exhibition lifted the curtain of the past covering the place known as the Cascade Complex. It featured archival photos of pre-Cascade period, its famous fountain, mosaic and the park, the real model of the fountain mosaic, created by its sculptor, Derenik Danielyan. Photos of the construction period of the Cascade, as well as the Cafesjian Center for the Arts were also on exhibit. Also, a special documentary short movie was created, in which archival videos were used, presenting the site from 60s till nowadays. The exhibition was organized at the Star Landing, open to public till May 23. On the same evening, Heads of different museums, special invitees and CCA members were invited to the celebration of the International Museum Day.

The evening program featured a tour of the newly opened exhibitions: Spring Exhibition, Ivana Šrámková: Geometric Forms and Images, Hagop Hagopian: The Song of Earthen Colors, Cascade in Memory, as well as a concert of Armenian music by mezzo-soprano Anna Mayilyan. After the concert, champagne and strawberries were served. All guests, as well as concert participants were delighted by the evening and thanked once again the Cafesjian Center for the Arts for the wonderful initiative.

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