A museum is an institution that collects, preserves, and interprets cultural and natural artifacts. Its purpose is to provide educational, research, and entertainment benefits to the public. The purpose of a museum is to inspire the general public to become involved in the world around them. The ICOM defines museums as institutions that care for and display collections of cultural and scientific importance. Despite the diversity of museum types, there are some similarities between them.
First, museums are political. They have an agenda and often reflect the dominant culture. If the definition of a museum is less dominated by one culture, it will seem political. For example, natural history museums tend to feature male birds, and they often focus on only certain perspectives. This isn’t to say that museums should be purely scientific; in fact, the opposite is true. It is important to recognize that museums are not neutral institutions that are meant to educate the public.
In addition to the new definition, the Standing Committee for the Museum Definition conducted a consultation process to collect input. The process was transparent, democratic, and open, and the Standing Committee agreed to change the name of the organization. The new name, ICOM Define, will be used throughout the rest of the Methodology. For now, it is not possible to decide on an official naming convention. However, the ICOM leadership approved a revised version in June that includes more elements and clarifications.
The Standing Committee for the Museum Definition began by establishing a new methodology for the consultation process. The Committee’s members were invited to submit reports about their activities and suggestions on how to better define museums. The results of this consultation will serve as the base for the next step in the Methodology: finalizing a definitive definition for museums. If you are considering setting up a museum, consider how the process might affect your community. There are no hard and fast rules, and the ICOM has embraced them.
Currently, the ICOM has no consensus on the definition of a museum. The committee has a variety of disciplinary objectives, and these have varying degrees of importance. ICOM is the only international organization dedicated to defining the definition of a museum. Having a universal definition is an important step in the creation of a successful museum. The ICOM has a mission to promote the preservation and promotion of the arts and culture.
A definition for the museum is a fundamental requirement for a museum to be recognized as a cultural institution. While this may seem difficult, the ICOM will work to find a universal definition that reflects the unique character of museums worldwide. In addition to the definition, the standing committee will seek to create a methodology for assessing a museum’s quality. This will help ICOM to create a better definition for its member countries. It will be open to any type of museum.