Museum of Ethnography Anniversary

If it is 5 March, it must be the Museum of Ethnography Anniversary. Mark your calendars, as this annual event offers not only free admission to the newly built museum at the gateway to City Park but also a full day of free and open activities. Visitors can immerse themselves in the excitement of museum work through a diverse range of programmes.

Highlights include the opening of a unique exhibition showcasing 1862 Hungarian photographs from the Victoria & Albert Museum, as well as lectures, guided tours, museum education workshops, concerts, and panel discussions—all celebrating the moment when, 153 years ago, János Xántus was appointed director, marking the beginnings of the institution.

The event explores the question: how far is the East? Scholars and travellers of the 19th and 20th centuries documented distant cultures, and this topic will be examined through engaging talks. Those interested in the evolution of magic, fetishes, and shamanism over the centuries can listen in on discussions with religious anthropologists. The museum’s experts will share insights from their 2024 and earlier fieldwork, shedding light on Mongolia’s contemporary challenges at the crossroads of tradition and modernisation.

Visitors will also learn about the so-called "Preliminary Collection", which predates the museum’s officially recognized first collection. In addition, there will be presentations on research related to costumes, clothing, ceramics, and the citera (a traditional stringed instrument). Naturally, live music will play an integral part in the day’s events. Expert-led guided tours will take participants on a journey through the museum’s hidden treasures, with a special focus on Székely culture, the genius of Ottó Herman, and the beauty of folk art gems. The mysteries of museum work will be unveiled, along with fascinating stories behind objects in the collection.

In addition to the opening of the exhibition Hungary in Colour: Hidden Photographs from 1862, another exciting debut awaits. On this day, the Present Archive will be launched. This initiative explores alternative storytelling through visual and artistic means and introduces MaDok’s new project, which aims to create a community-driven photo and story archive spanning from the 1990s to today. Visitors can even contribute their own photographs to the collection.

There is more in store at the anniversary celebration. The new collection exhibition is accompanied by the adventures of a little dog and cat, which children can follow through magical lenses. Thanks to a creative competition, Barka and Buga, the charming protagonists, will come to life in a newly released illustrated children’s book—one that visitors can take home.