International Museum Day – our top picks to inspire curiosity and cultivate learning
To mark International Museum Day on 18 May, members of the Clore Leadership team share their favourite museums and galleries
Can you imagine a future where knowledge-sharing transcends barriers, where innovation unites with tradition? Where crab jokes unite with old bicycle parts? Or could the future be now?
This year’s International Museum Day infers at least the first two of these questions, as it centres the theme of education and research in its annual celebration of museums and what they have to offer us as a society.
Museums serve as dynamic educational hubs, fostering curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. In 2024, we acknowledge their contribution to research, providing a platform for exploration and the dissemination of new ideas. From art and history to science and technology, museums are vital spaces where education and research converge to shape our understanding of the world.
International Museum Day
This quirky selection of favourites from the Clore Leadership team asks us to embrace that curiosity and seek new insights and experiences in unexpected places and things…
The Crab Museum by Nic
Margate, Kent
“My new favourite place is The Crab Museum in Margate. Unassuming, quirky, comedic and thought-provoking, they have tapped into an innovating and exciting way to engage with audiences. They recently ran a call out to find the ‘Best Crab Joke’, which were judged by some of the UK’s top comedians as part of their Self Proclaimed ‘World Crab Day’. Worth a visit for a giggle.”
The Whitby Museum by Shelley
Whitby, North Yorkshire
“A Victorian museum full of maritime, social and natural history, fine art, costumes, textiles and fossils, and what my nephew used to love – a mummified hand!”
Dennis Severs’ House by Lauren
London
“If you fancy a theatrical trip back through time, tucked away near Spitalfields Market on Folgate Street is the powerfully atmospheric, historic and truly immersive house which has been frozen in time by Denis Severs. The Christmas candlelight tours are especially wonderful!”
The Barbara Hepworth Museum by Ellen
St Ives, Cornwall
“Visiting the Barbara Hepworth Museum in Wakefield offers an immersive journey into the life and work of one of the 20th century’s most influential sculptors, providing a profound insight into her artistic vision and creative process.”
www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-st-ives/barbara-hepworth-museum-and-sculpture-garden
Bicycle Heaven by Jonathan
Pittsburgh, USA
“I’m going to opt for Bicycle Heaven, a slightly obscure museum in Pittsburgh that doubles up as a bike shop as well as a museum!”
The Butter Museum by Freya
Cork, Ireland
“I visited the Butter Museum last year on a birthday trip to Cork and it was a trove of delicious delights – from prehistoric butter dug preserved (not that well) in the ground, to intricately crafted churns against the backdrop of Ireland’s butter-making history on film. My highlight was making my own butter labels to take back home!”
The Horniman Museum and Gardens by Hilary
London
“I’ve been going to the Horniman since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. My Dad took me, I took my boys, and I’ve no doubt they’ll take their children… With its world-class collections, research and gardens, Horniman has something for every generation, and every nation.”
Connect with us on social media to continue the conversation and insights and recommendations for your favourite museums.
Themes Sector Insights
