International museum day is celebrated annually on May 18, and the theme for 2023 is museums, sustainability, and well-being.
Museums are key contributors to the well-being and sustainable development of our communities. As trusted institutions and important threads in our shared social fabric, they are uniquely placed to create a cascading effect to foster positive change. There are many ways in which museums can contribute to achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, including supporting climate action and fostering inclusivity, to tackling social isolation, and improving mental health.
Museums in Iceland with free entrance & special events:
Árnessýsla Heritage Museum - The Merchants House at Eyrarbakki (Byggðasafn Árnesinga): Guided tour of the Merchant House. Jump back in Eyrarbakki and get to know Ásgrím Jónsson, the country boy who became a famous painter. 11 AM.
Skagafjörður Heritage Museum (Byggðasafn Skagafjarðar): Skagafjörður Heritage Museum in Sauðárkrókur will host a special International Museum Day bingo. Curators will be on hand to show the history of turf houses and the way of life in Iceland in the past centuries—a remarkable example of a sustainable way of life. 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
National Museum of Iceland (Þjóðminjasafnið): Special guided tour on the occasion of International Museum Day. 2:00 PM.
Hafnarfjörður Museum (Byggðasafn Hafnarfjarðar)
Garður Folk Museum (Byggðasafnið á Garðskaga): Fun exhibition related to sustainability and recycling.
Icelandic Museum of Natural History (Náttúruminjasafn Íslands): There will be an illustration workshop at the exhibition on the 2nd floor of Perlan, Reykjavík. 2:00 PM.
Technical Museum of East Iceland (Tækniminjasafnið á Seyðisfirði): Opening of the outdoor walkway and exhibition. The trail marks the way from the old museum (closed due to a landslide in December 2020) to where the new museum will (hopefully) be built within a few years. The exhibition discusses Seyðisfjörður's cultural life and its uniqueness from various perspectives.
The Herring Era Museum (Síldarminjasafnið): Concerts held in the Boathouse for the benefit of this museum in Siglufjörður, North Iceland. 8:00 PM.
The Norwegian House - Regional Museum of Snæfellsnes
Hafnargata (Byggðasafn Snæfellinga og Hnappdæla)
Gerðarsafn Museum (Byggðasafnið á Garðskaga) Guided tour of select exhibits. 3:00 PM.
Grasagarður Botanical Garden (Grasagarður Reykjavíkur)
Hafnarborg Center of Culture and Fine Art
Museum Of Design And Applied Art (Hönnunarsafn Íslands)
Akureyri Art Museum (Listasafnið á Akureyri):
LÁ Art Museum (Listasafn Árnesinga) Guided tour in the House. How about jumping a little back in time at Húsin á Eyrarbakki and getting to know Ásgrím Jónsson, the country boy who became a famous painter?
Reykjavík Art Museum Hafnarhús (Listasafn Reykjavíkur Hafnarhús)
Reykjavík Art Museum Kjarvalsstaðir (Listasafn Reykjavíkur Kjarvalsstaðir)
Húsavík Museum (Safnahúsið á Húsavík)
The Living Art Museum (Nýlistasafnið)