HOW can museums bring about positive change in our communities? This year, International Museum Day (May 18) is exploring the potential of museums in three areas: sustainability, digitalization and accessibility, and community building. With this in mind, the Shenzhen Museum hosted a series of events yesterday for locals.

An exhibition of bronzeware from ancient Yunnan Dian Kingdom, a paleobiology and marine reptile specimen exhibition and a Guangdong gold-coated woodcarving exhibition opened yesterday morning at the museum’s two outlets.

Local intangible cultural heritage craftspeople demonstrated their unique skills in silhouette paper cutting, straw painting, dough sculpture, painting inside glass bottles, Hakka hat making, and other skills at an event. Collectors also brought their cherished antiques for free appraisals by experts. Throughout this month, more activities will be held at museums around the city, such as free lectures and children’s events, helping to unleash “the power of museums,” the theme of this year’s International Museum Day.

(Cao Zhen)