In recognition of this noble mission, on May 18, museum professionals from various countries celebrate their professional holiday – International Museum Day. It is held by decision of the 11th General Conference of the International Council of Museums, which took place in May 1977. Since 1978, the holiday has been officially celebrated worldwide.

The scale of this movement is also reflected in our country. Today, there are 160 state museums operating in Belarus, whose collections carefully preserve over 3.5 million unique exhibits. In addition, about 1.5 thousand more thematic museums are open in educational institutions. By collecting and preserving monuments of material and spiritual culture, all of them carry out tremendous scientific, educational, and upbringing work.
Each year, a special theme is chosen for International Museum Day, reflecting the most pressing issues in the fields of culture, art, and education. In 2026, the holiday will be held under the profound and symbolic motto: "Museums for Global Cohesion". This emphasizes the role of cultural spaces as bridges for dialogue, mutual understanding, and bringing people together.

Following this unifying mission, on May 18, many museums traditionally open their doors to everyone free of charge. Especially for this day, history keepers prepare new exhibitions, thematic lectures, engaging excursions, and scientific readings. They invite residents and guests of their regions to visit them, to take them into the amazing world of the interesting and educational – into the world of what can sometimes be seen and heard only in museum halls.

Museums are rightly recognized as key cultural centers of each region of the republic, true treasuries of historical and cultural values. In Beshenkovichi, this noble mission is carried out by the district historical and local lore museum, whose employees make an invaluable contribution to preserving the chronicle of the Dvina region daily.

Thanks to their professionalism, sincere dedication to their work, and boundless creative search, the district museum remains a living, developing organism. Its specialists not only keep strict records and scientifically describe antiquities but also transform historical heritage into engaging excursion routes, vibrant exhibitions, and interactive educational programs for youth. They collect memories of fellow countrymen bit by bit, uncover new pages of the heroic and labor past of the Beshenkovichi land, making history tangible and accessible for every generation.

Currently, renovation work is underway at the Beshenkovichi District Historical and Local Lore Museum, so its main exhibitions are temporarily closed to visitors. However, as reported by the museum director Lyubov Derevyago, on May 18, museum staff invite residents and guests of the district to visit the interactive exhibition "Ethnography of the Beshenkovichi Region." It will be open from 3 PM to 6 PM near the exhibition hall "Meshchansky House of the Beshenkovichi town of the late 19th – early 20th century."

We sincerely congratulate the staff of the district historical and local lore museum on their professional holiday. We wish you successful completion of renovations, new unique discoveries, inexhaustible inspiration, and peaceful skies!

"Zarya"