“博物馆”一词，源于希腊文“缪斯庵” (Museion) ，原意为“祭祀缪斯的地方”。缪斯是希腊神话中掌管科学与艺术的九位神女的通称，她们分别掌管着历史、天文、史诗、情诗、抒情诗、悲剧、喜剧、圣歌和舞蹈，代表着当时希腊人文活动的全部。
1946年11月，国际博物馆协会在法国巴黎成立。1974年6月，国际博物馆协会于丹麦的哥本哈根召开第11届会议，将博物馆定义为“是一个不追求盈利，为社会和社会发展服务的公开的永久机构。它把收集、保存、研究有关人类及其环境见证物当作自己的基本职责，以便展出，公诸于众，提供学习、教育、欣赏的机会。”
1971年国际博物馆协会在法国召开大会，针对当今世界的发展，探讨了博物馆的文化教育功能与人类未来的关系。1977年，国际博物馆协会为促进全球博物馆事业的健康发展，吸引全社会公众对博物馆事业的了解、参与和关注，向全世界宣告：1977年5月18日为第一个“国际博物馆日”，并每年为国际博物馆日确定活动主题。
The International Council of Museums (ICOM) established International Museum Day in 1977 to encourage public awareness of the role of museums in the development of society.
From America to Oceania, through Europe, Asia and Africa, International Museum Day is a special moment for the museum community. On this day, participating museums interpret an issue that concerns all cultural organisations. International Museum Day is also a fantastic opportunity for museum professionals to meet their public. At the heart of society, museums are institutions dedicated to its development.
Traditionally, International Museum Day is organised around 18 May. It can last a day, a weekend or a whole week, the objective being to meet at the museum with the motto: “Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples”.
Each year, IMD gathers more museums from all around the world. In 2012, 32,000 museums from 129 countries on five continents participated in the event.
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