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| 1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, The International Council of Museums (ICOM) | ||||||
| 3 | established International Museum Day in 1977 to increase | ||||||
| 4 | public awareness of the vital role museums play in the | ||||||
| 5 | development of society; and | ||||||
| 6 | WHEREAS, Museums are incomparable places of discovery that | ||||||
| 7 | teach us about our past and open our minds to new ideas, | ||||||
| 8 | serving as essential pillars in building a better future; and | ||||||
| 9 | WHEREAS, Museums worldwide will celebrate International | ||||||
| 10 | Museum Day on May 18, 2026 under the theme "Museums Uniting a | ||||||
| 11 | Divided World", highlighting the potential of these | ||||||
| 12 | institutions to act as bridges across cultural, social, and | ||||||
| 13 | geopolitical divides; and | ||||||
| 14 | WHEREAS, Museums serve as trusted public spaces where | ||||||
| 15 | people encounter diverse stories and objects, fostering | ||||||
| 16 | dialogue, understanding, inclusion, and peace in times of | ||||||
| 17 | social fragmentation and polarization; and | ||||||
| 18 | WHEREAS, Illinois is home to a vast array of world-class | ||||||
| 19 | museums that safeguard our heritage and memory, offering | ||||||
| 20 | learning and reflection while providing welcoming spaces where | ||||||
| 21 | diverse voices can be heard; and | ||||||
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| 1 | WHEREAS, These institutions contribute to the | ||||||
| 2 | democratization of knowledge and serve as guardians of | ||||||
| 3 | humanity's treasures for future generations while adapting to | ||||||
| 4 | modern social, economic, and ecological challenges; and | ||||||
| 5 | WHEREAS, The year 2026 marks the 80th anniversary of the | ||||||
| 6 | International Council of Museums, celebrating eight decades of | ||||||
| 7 | commitment to a world where natural and cultural heritage is | ||||||
| 8 | universally valued; and | ||||||
| 9 | WHEREAS, International Museum Day has grown into a global | ||||||
| 10 | phenomenon, with previous years seeing participation from over | ||||||
| 11 | 37,000 museums across 158 countries, reaching hundreds of | ||||||
| 12 | millions of people through both in-person and digital | ||||||
| 13 | engagement; therefore, be it | ||||||
| 14 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | ||||||
| 15 | HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | ||||||
| 16 | we declare May 18, 2026 as Museum Day in the State of Illinois | ||||||
| 17 | in recognition of the profound impact museums have on our | ||||||
| 18 | communities and their power to transform the world around us; | ||||||
| 19 | and be it further | ||||||
| 20 | RESOLVED, That we encourage all citizens of Illinois to | ||||||
| 21 | visit our State's museums, participate in their programming, | ||||||
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| 1 | and support their mission of fostering a more connected and | ||||||
| 2 | understanding society. | ||||||