The word museum has an ambiguous history and a multitude of definitions. Every museum is different, based on local histories, cultures, and contexts, and many have multiple roles as community centres, cultural hubs, and social spaces. Nevertheless, museums share certain core values and principles such as their commitment to preserve objects for the benefit of future generations.
The term museum has classical roots, appearing in the 3rd century bce as a Greek form of mouseion or “seat of the Muses.” By the 15th century it was translated into Latin as museeum (from musuema, meaning collection), indicating an institution to hold objects in trust for society.
In the 18th century, Denis Diderot defined a museum as an institutional space that houses art and science collections in order to “serve society by educating the public about cultural heritage” and providing access to it. It was also at this time that museums began to expand internationally and acquire more art, demonstrating their newfound power and status.
As the museum movement grew, a common thread emerged: the desire to communicate and engage with audiences. A key question became: How do we define our role and purpose? To answer this, we have a variety of tools and methodologies, but one of the most important is to understand and articulate our core functions.
Noble distinguished five basic responsibilities: to collect, conserve, study, interpret and exhibit. He compared them to the fingers of a hand, each distinct and independent but united for the common goal: ‘If a museum omits or slights any of these, it is handicapped immeasurably’ (Noble 1970).
Today’s museums are complex places. They offer a broad range of experiences for education, enjoyment and reflection while striving for sustainability and diversity. They operate and communicate ethically, professionally and with the participation of their communities. They work in close collaboration with other sectors of society and provide a space for critical dialogue about pasts and futures.
In this environment, it is important for museums to have a clearly defined mission that resonates with their audience and addresses their real needs. The process of redefining the museum’s scope is a momentous opportunity to show that museums are not just educational institutions but dynamic, multi-purpose spaces with a rich heritage of innovation for the public good.
Museums must be prepared to step out of their comfort zone and take risks in the name of their missions. This may include challenging traditional structures, opening up spaces and services to a wider audience, or engaging in new pedagogical approaches. It might mean embracing technology, or allowing visitors to make their own contributions to the museum’s collections. It might even mean opening up to non-permanent forms like pop-ups.
The upcoming vote on the museum definition is a moment of opportunity to demonstrate this courage and to bring the new museum into the world. It is a chance to prove that museums are not just about education, but are also about building community.