What is #MuseumSelfie Day?

[EDIT TO UPDATE FOR 2015]

This post has been getting more hits so just to clarify:

#MuseumSelfie day is on January 21, 2015
Twitter: @MuseumsSelfie Day
Instagram: MuseumSelfieDay
Hashtag #MuseumSelfie
See CultureThemes write up: It’s back! #MuseumSelfie Day on January 21st @MuseumSelfieDay official account

 Objective:  A day to share selfies either in museums or around museums.  These can be on the day or ones from previous visits.  This is a FUN DAY to encourage people to visit museums and participate a bit with art or collections.  

Back to Write up from 2014

A little break from Google Explorer updates 🙂

On January 22, CultureThemes is running #Museumselfie.  I’ve been asked what it is all about so thought I’d explain the background a bit.

I’m a Cultural Snatcher – I can’t help it!  I take after my mom who is never without a camera (remember Kodak Disc?  I do.).  When I visit and explore a museum, I love sharing what I’m seeing.  While I’m not a huge fan of taking pictures of myself, I can see why people like a good old selfie.

CultureThemes is a monthly hashtag I help organize on Twitter (we’ll be 3 in March). The idea behind CultureThemes is to have a positive event once a month on Twitter to highlight the fun and ‘unstuffiness’ of museums/culture.  Previous tags included: #WhyILoveMuseums, #MusSocks, #MusMovember, and support #AskACurator day.

When I was coming up with new ideas for January, I happened to catch a conversation on Twitter with Adrian from Horniman talking about creating a Pinterest for Selfies with the Walrus.  Horniman has a lovely, but not-the-best-taxidermy Walrus which people love to see on a visit.  The idea of the Pinterest board reminded me how many people I see in my own travels taking selfies at museums and art galleries.

Suddenly, #MuseumSelfie was created. 

The idea is simple, people around the world have been asked to take selfies at museums for the past month and they will share on Twitter using #MuseumSelfie on January 22^nd.  The pictures could be current or from previous trips.

We’ve museums in Catalan, Russia, South Africa, America, UK, France and more who pledged to take part.

So if you’re visiting a museum this weekend, make sure you take a #MuseumSelfie and share with @CultureThemes this Wednesday!