Press release
WFFM Europe meeting in Parma, Pilotta Complex, 25-27 October 2024
The World Federation of Friends of Museums (WFFM) is an international non-governmental, non-profit organization that aims to promote cooperation among associations of friends of museums associations worldwide. Founded in 1975, following the momentum generated by the General Conference of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in Paris in 1971. The World Federation of Friends of Museums is a privileged partner of ICOM and was recognized in 1989 by UNESCO as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), reinforcing its role as a key player in promoting culture and heritage on an international scale.
The Federation’s members now represent more than 2 million Friends. The main mission of the World Federation of Friends of Museums is to foster international cooperation among associations of friends of museums to promote mutual understanding, exchange information, and share best practices. The Federation aims to enhance and enrich the life of museums by supporting the development of these associations for the benefit of both museums and the public.
The World Federation of Friends of Museums regularly organizes international meetings and gathers in Parma, in the prestigious Pilotta monumental complex, 25 to 27 October, to take stock of actions undertaken at the European level this year and plan.
To celebrate the community of a million enthusiasts across Europe, national federations initiated the first annual European Day of Friends of Museums in 2023; it takes place every second Sunday in October. The goal of this day is to celebrate and highlight Friends of Museums in Europe with events on a common theme, held on the same day in each association’s respective country.
The second edition of this event supported by the European and associations of 10 countries, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Romania, United Kingdom, and placed under the patronage of the European Parliament, took place on Sunday October 13 under the theme “Your Museums, our Passion!”. It was the opportunity for the 200 or so associations which participated to showcase the actions they carried out throughout the year to share their passion and contribute to their museums’ influence.
A wide variety of actions were proposed: presence of Friends in the museum with a stand to present the associations and its activities, guided tours of the museum or temporary exhibitions, lectures, round tables with art historians, drawing classes, workshops for children, historical reenactments in period costumes, concerts in the museum, partnerships with museums in twin cities in Europe, friendship drinks, free museum admittance, joint actions by Friends or Young Friends of Museums.
During their meeting in the Palatina Library, European countries considered the very good audience they got with their actions and decided to go along the third European Day of Museums, Sunday 12 October 2025 keeping for the next following years their motto “Your Museums, our Passion!” which identify clearly who are the Friends of Museums.
Generously and warmly welcomed by the Friends of the Pilotta and their curators they were able to immerse themselves in Parma’s rich and long cultural heritage from the archeological national museum to the Farnese theater and the colorful graces of the Correggio and Parmigianino painters throughout the city.
