Museums are institutions that preserve, display and interpret collections of art, history, science, cultural heritage and natural history. Whether they are dedicated to preserving rare objects or are spaces designed to inspire, they all share an inherent purpose: to tell stories that shape our futures.
For this reason museums are vitally important to the well-being of societies, and the more people who visit them, the better. In the last decade, as the museum field has become more serious about independent learning, deep engagement and participation, museums have been able to expand their ability to inspire more visitors.
But that capacity to inspire isn’t a given; museums need the support of their communities to remain relevant in their own times. And that support doesn’t just mean money, which, of course, is necessary. It also includes the recognition of what is valuable about the museum’s mission and the willingness to share that vision with others.
This is why many of the major professional organizations have offered definitions of what it means to be a museum, and they all emphasize the public good and the care, preservation, and interpretation of collections. These definitions are not without controversy, and it is important that ICOM members have the opportunity to examine them carefully, and to consider how they might impact their own institutions.
The word “museum” has classical roots in Greek and Roman times, referring to places of philosophical discussion. It was only in the 18th century that the concept of a museum as an institution created to collect and exhibit objects for the benefit of the public began to emerge. Napoleon’s “cabinets of curiosities” and the establishment of national museums in Europe were the most notable examples of this development, but it took a long time for the museums to gain a foothold in society.
Today, museums are a major source of culture, with their exhibitions, research, publications, events and education. They are essential to our understanding of ourselves and the world we live in, and they provide inspiration for us as individuals and as societies. They also offer a unique view of the past, and give context to our lives in the present.
ICOM has embarked on a revision of its museum definition to ensure that it is aligned with some of the major changes taking place in the museums sector, including those related to inclusion and community participation. This process was launched at ICOM’s General Conference in Kyoto in 2019, and will culminate in the publication of a revised definition at ICOM’s 2022 conference in Prague.
The ICOM Define project team has worked to produce five museum definition proposals. On Consultation 4, ICOM committees were asked to rank their top choice, and ICOM Define has been working intensively to process the results of this exercise. The proposal that received the highest ranking will be presented for vote at the Extraordinary General Assembly. This will take place on August 24 during ICOM Prague 2022.