Night of the Museums

A couple of months ago Edmundo, director of the Charcas Museum where I work, came up with the idea of organising a night in which all museums of Sucre would be open free of charge. The event was aimed in the first place at the inhabitants of Sucre who hardly visit museums, which is left to foreign tourists. The project was called "Night of the Museums; from Sunset to Sunrise" and over the last months we worked very hard to make it a success. I contributed a session in which visitors are encouraged to handle archaeological objects called "Prohibido no tocar" and materials to encourage children to explore the collection. Edmundo spend weeks talking to the press and visiting radio and television stations. In the week leading up to the 16th of May we were pretty nervous, wondering whether anyone would turn up. The start was slow. The choir who were supposed to open the night in grand style never turned up and half an hour after kick-off all the lights went out. Somehow things got going and we all got involved talking to visitors. After a while I noticed that the museum was getting full but it wasn´t until I looked out of the window that I realised the full extent. Henry was standing outside not being able to get through the crowds. Hordes of people queued up and the street was absolutely packed. There were people of all sorts of backgrounds, townies as well as camposinos (from the rural areas). They came to see the collections rather than to attend the special events, which were relatively poorly attended. It was absolutely amazing! How many people exactly visited the Charcas Museum that night we do not know, but it was certainly thousands!

The photos show the view from the window on the night of the 16th and preparations for the exhibition on colonial mummies.