International Museum Day 2024: 12 Taipei Museums Offer Free Entry for Two Days

▲In celebration of International Museum Day on May 18, most museums in Taipei are offering free entry for two days; pictured is the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei. (Photo / Courtesy of the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei official website)

Travel Center / Taipei Reporting

Today (May 18) is International Museum Day! This year, the Taipei City Government’s Department of Cultural Affairs has partnered with 73 museums to offer free admission, extended opening hours, and other perks, along with over a hundred art and cultural performances and events. For those who haven’t decided where to go during the holiday, why not visit a nearby museum? You can take advantage of these offers while also celebrating International Museum Day.

On May 18, a total of 14 museums will waive admission fees, and on May 19, 12 museums will do the same. These include Grass Mountain Chateau, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei, Taipei Puppet Theatre, Taipei 228 Memorial Museum, National Museum of History, National Taiwan Science Education Center, Lin Liou-shin Memorial Puppet Theatre Museum, Shihshan Cultural and Ecological Park, Postal Museum, SOHO Children's Art Gallery, and Taipei City University of Science and Technology Robot Museum—all of which are free for both days. Many other venues are also offering discounted tickets, food, or shopping deals.

Twelve venues, including Taipei Story House, Beitou Cultural and Creative Park, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, and Paper Museum, will also extend their opening hours on either May 18 or 19, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Additionally, on May 18, the Beitou Hot Spring Museum will distribute 1,500 soft souvenir magnets to visitors—one per person while supplies last. The Taipei Exploration Hall will give out 10th-anniversary L-shaped clips, and Qidong Street Japanese-Style Dormitory – Taipei Guqin House will offer bookmarks featuring traditional guqin designs.

Liu Wei-kung, Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs, said: “This year marks Taipei’s first-ever Museum Day event. Its standout feature is the participation of 11 privately run museums that usually work quietly behind the scenes. All participating museums together embody this year’s International Museum Day theme—‘Museums (Memory + Creativity) = Social Change’—bringing positive energy that drives social transformation.”
 

[ETtoday Mini Encyclopedia]
International Museum Day is observed every year on May 18. It was established by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) on May 18, 1977, and the first celebration took place that year. The day aims to raise global awareness about museums and their cultural treasures, and to promote the healthy development of museums around the world.