Every year on May 18, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) celebrates International Museum Day (IMD)—a global occasion that highlights the transformative power of museums in society. The 2025 theme, “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities,” looks into how museums can adapt to and shape a world facing deep social, technological, and environmental shifts. Museums today are more than guardians of history: they are active agents of change, promoting inclusion, sustainability, and community engagement.
To mark this important date, the War Childhood Museum is organizing several special activities:
🗓 Friday, May 16 – Panel Discussion: The Museum as a Classroom for Peace
Join us for a conversation on the educational role of museums, with a focus on peace education as a core component of our work in local communities. The event will include a live demonstration of a peacebuilding exercise performed by high school peer educators trained by the Museum.
The panel will be moderated by Aida Šarac Berbić, Master of Art History (Teaching Track) and Museum Educator at the Art Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with contributions from:
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Mersiha Began, School Visits Coordinator and Museum Educator at WCM
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Dr. Anida Manko, Senior Assistant at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Sarajevo
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Lamija Krupalija, Peer Educator
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Mak Dujković, Peer Educator
The program will conclude with the announcement of the recipient of the “Lejla Hairlahović-Hušić Scholarship.”
🗓 Sunday, May 18 – Free Museum Entry
We are opening our doors to all visitors free of charge! Take this opportunity to explore our permanent exhibition and discover the stories of children affected by war from around the world.
🗓 Monday, May 19 – Peacebuilding Workshop
A hands-on workshop designed for youth, including a visit to the permanent exhibition.
Through these activities, we aim to reflect on the evolving role of museums in today’s world and reaffirm our commitment to using memory, education, and storytelling as tools for building a more peaceful future.
