The Oiasso Museum, Irun's cultural institution dedicated to the city's Roman past, is joining the celebration of International Museum Day with its twentieth anniversary in sight. This July will mark two decades since the museum's inauguration, an occasion it reaches with the best visitor numbers in its history, following the addition of the archaeological site of the Roman baths a year ago.

To commemorate Museum Day, Oiasso has prepared a special program combining archaeology, remembrance, and social action. Under the theme “Museums uniting a divided world,” the museum has formalized a collaboration agreement with the Elkarrekin cooperative, aimed at fostering social inclusion and access to culture among families of diverse backgrounds. This year's theme emphasizes the role of museums as spaces capable of building bridges between communities and contributing to social cohesion.

The agreement with Elkarrekin will allow families participating in the Familia Laguna program, part of the Ongi Etorri Eskolara project, to access museum activities. Specifically, these families will take part in the Arkeolab family workshop, held on Saturdays, as well as visits to the permanent exhibition. The Familia Laguna initiative promotes social and educational support by creating bonds between migrant and local families with children of similar ages.

The International Museum Day celebration will include free admission to the Oiasso Museum for all visitors next Saturday, May 16. Visitors can enjoy the permanent collection and the temporary exhibition dedicated to Neanderthals. On the same morning, guided tours to explore the Roman baths of Oiasso with virtual reality glasses will also be available; and on Sunday, May 17, also in the morning, there will be a ride on the Tren Txikito to the Hermitage of Santa Elena.

Furthermore, on Tuesday, May 19, at 7:00 PM, a special conference titled “From aspiration to reality: challenges and learning in the gestation process of the Oiasso Museum of Irun, 1996-2006” will be given by an archaeologist who was a founder and director of the museum. Admission will be free until full capacity is reached.

The Oiasso Museum will once again host one of the Summer Courses organized by the EHU. This year, the proposal is titled “Everyone to the table! Tableware and ceramic vessels in the daily life of the Roman Empire.” It will be held on July 2 at the museum, and the lecturers will be Elena Torregaray Pagola and Oihane Mendizabal Sandonís, both EHU faculty members. The course will delve into how ceramics served as the “plastic” of antiquity, from the terra sigilata of luxurious banquets to the humble kitchenware. The enrollment fee is 25 euros, and registrations can be made through the Summer Courses website.