International Council of Museums

Türkiye's defense, interior and culture and tourism ministries have started a joint effort to retrieve historical artifacts smuggled out of Syria by terrorists in the region, local media has said.

A large number of historical artifacts have been seized so far from smugglers who took advantage of the turmoil in Syria and terrorists organizing plans for them.

A painting museum on the shores of Istanbul's Bosphorus is home to an Ottoman palace painting collection that continues to draw visitors despite the pandemic.

Following a multi-year restoration project, the National Palaces Painting Museum in Istanbul's Beşiktaş district was reopened by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in January.

Turkey's first and only Kite Museum operating in Istanbul since 2005 narrates to visitors the 2,500-years of wonderful history and journey of the kite.

Speaking to the state-run Anadolu Agency on the eve of the International Museum Day, Mehmet Naci Aköz, the founder of the museum, said he had established the Kite Museum with his collection in the Üsküdar district in Istanbul.

Museums and ruins on the UNESCO World Heritage List have been put on a virtual environment as people follow stay-at-home orders during World Museum Week, giving an experience to audiences online to enjoy magnificent images.

Culture Minister Bogdan Gheorghiu conveyed on Monday a message occasioned by the International Museum Day, in which he underscored that the challenges of this period will be overcome together and extends the invitation to visit the museum institutions which will open these days.

As the pandemic broke out, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) urged its members to find alternative ways of marking the day, so the Slovenian section decided to go virtual.

President Katerina Sakellaropoulou visited the Acropolis Hill on Monday which signalled the first day when archaeological sites reopen to the public after the lockdown imposed in mid-March to halt the spread of coronavirus.

Young girls get elaborate hairdos based on ancient Greek styles during International Museum Day at the Archaeological Museum of Ancient Corinth in southern Greece on Saturday.

Visitors packed the halls of the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, as well as other sites and museums across the country on Friday, taking advantage of the offer of free admission on International Museum Day. International Museum Day was established in 1977 by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) to promote the idea of museums as an important means of cultural exchange.

The Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry has translated the emergency red list of Iraqi Cultural Objects into Turkish. 

The list, prepared by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in 2015, is being distributed to Turkish security units, collectors, customs and museums.