The Department of Culture has launched its first virtual museum to motivate young persons to appreciate and love museums around the Virgin Islands.

The virtual museum initiative was launched on May 20 in observation of International Museum Day.

Minister for Education, Culture and Youth Affairs, Dr. the Honourable Natalio Wheatley, spoke of the importance of museums to the Virgin Islands culture and history while addressing students at the launch. He also urged them to appreciate their purpose and function.

Honourable Wheatley said, “This is why we have museums, to give you, young people an opportunity to learn how life used to be in the Virgin Islands. We at the ministry are looking at building a museum so we can have exhibitions about our culture, from basket weaving to cultural villages, to Hurricane Irma.”

Deputy Director for the Department of Culture, Ms. Anne Lennard said that in keeping with the theme of “Museums as Cultural Hubs: The Future of Tradition”, the department was pleased to introduce for the first time, a virtual museum tour, which enable persons to access today’s technology and visit the Territory’s museums. She added, “In other words, if you cannot come to a museum, with the click of a button the Maritime Museum of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College comes to you.”

A week of activities has been planned from May 20 to 24. These include a message from Minister, Dr. Natalio Wheatley declaring the week open, a week long exhibition at the First Chief Minister’s Museum, exhibitions by the Long Look Heritage Committee and the Long Look Methodist Church.

There will also be exhibitions on the sister Islands on Wednesday, May 22 and Friday, May 24 at the Bregado Flax Educational Centre-Secondary Division on Virgin Gorda and a Pop-Up Museum Exhibit at the Jost Van Dyke Primary School on Thursday, May 23.

International Museum Day is observed every year on May 18^.  It is said that museums as institutions tell the story of man and how humanity has survived in its environment over the years. It houses things created by nature and by man and in the modern society it houses the cultural soul of the nation. It holds the cultural wealth of the nation in trust for all generations and by its function and unique position, has become the cultural conscience of the nation.

For more Information about International Museum Day, please contact the Department of Culture at 468-4374.

Note:

• Please find attached 2 photographs (photo credit goes to Mr. Ronnielle Frazer)
• An image of the flier with the schedule of events
• Two voice clips from Hon. Dr. Natalio Wheatley and Deputy Director of Culture, Ms. Anne Lennard.