The province of Shandong hosted its main celebration for International Museum Day on May 15 at the Qingdao campus of Shandong University, in an effort to promote more communications between museum professionals and the public.

International Museum Day falls on May 18, and its theme in 2021 is "The Future of Museums: Recover and Reimagine," which focuses on the post-COVID-19 epidemic era, as well as on how museums should open up new thinking, explore new models, propose new solutions, and carry out extensive discussions.

The new museum at Qingdao Campus of Shandong University was also launched on the same day. It has an exhibition area of more than 9,000 square meters and a cultural relic protection laboratory of 5,000 sq m. With a total construction area of 40,800 square meters, it is the largest single building museum among universities in China.

Shandong University Museum is a comprehensive university museum, which was established and opened to the public in 1995. Its venue at Jinan Campus has an exhibition area of 2,000 sq m. Shandong University Museum was selected as a national first-class museum in December 2020.

Guan Qiang, deputy director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, delivers a speech at the event. [Photo/WeChat account: sdu-1901]

In his speech, Guan Qiang, deputy director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, said that Shandong is one of the important cradles of Chinese civilization.

He noted that in recent years, Shandong has made positive progress in its work regarding cultural relic museums, as well as has formed a museum system with a wide variety, optimized structure, and distinctive characteristics.

He added that university museums, represented by the Museum of Shandong University, should make use of their characteristics and advantages to make contributions to the creative transformation and development of Chinese civilization.

Fan Liming, president of Shandong University, delivers a speech at the event. [Photo/WeChat account: sdu-1901]

"As a State-level museum, the Shandong University Museum will continue to make great efforts to amplify Chinese civilization and make academic research better developed," said Fan Liming, president of Shandong University.

Fan added that the museum will integrate top collections and exhibitions, as well as excellent cultural communication with discipline construction and talent training to foster a model in university museum development, while also promoting the innovative transformation and development of traditional Chinese culture.

Wang Tingqi, deputy director of Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, delivers a speech at the event. [Photo/WeChat account: sdu-1901]

Wang Tingqi, deputy director of the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, said that by relying on 610 museums and related online exhibition service platforms, Shandong has comprehensively promoted the development of museum undertakings and revitalized the province's cultural resources.

"Museums have been built into an important base for carrying forward traditional culture, patriotic education, and meeting the spiritual and cultural needs of the people," he said.

The Marine Archaeology Research Center of Shandong University was launched, while the signing ceremony of the Museum Alliance of Jiaodong Economic Circle was also held on the same day.

The Marine Archaeology Research Center of Shandong University is launched. [Photo/WeChat account: sdu-1901]