Armenia marks Night of Museums with free admission until midnight

Museums across Armenia will stay open free of charge until midnight on Saturday as part of the annual Night of Museums initiative held ahead of International Museum Day on 18 May.

According to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, museums will welcome visitors from 11:00 to 24:00 with special exhibitions, interactive events and cultural programs designed to showcase museum collections in a new format. Museums taking part on 18 May will operate according to their regular visiting hours.

Organizers say the initiative aims to encourage greater public interest in cultural heritage, strengthen connections between museums and local communities, and underline the role of culture in fostering a more united society.

International Museum Day was established in 1977 by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) to promote awareness of the important role museums play in society. The Night of Museums program was launched in 2005 by France’s Ministry of Culture and Communication with the support of ICOM, UNESCO and the Council of Europe. Armenia joined the pan-European initiative later that year.