A museum is a non-profit institution that works in partnership with and for diverse communities to collect, preserve, research, document, interpret and exhibit the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for the purpose of education, research and enjoyment. It is a safe, shared and collaborative space that provides access to heritage for all and contributes to human dignity, social justice and global equality.
The newest definition of museum challenges museums to cede institutional authority to the communities they serve, and shifts their objective from transmitting expert knowledge to connecting with people. It also calls on museums to be open to the public and democratize their exhibitions, acknowledging that they should not just be places for privileged visitors, but spaces for all.
While many museums are known for their grand buildings and extensive collections, smaller museums may be equally impressive. For example, the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles and the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia are both museums that do not have a lot of artifacts but have created meaningful museum experiences for their visitors.
In recent years, the conversation over who owns history and where it rightly belongs has been increasingly complex. For example, when museums acquire objects from other cultures, there are questions about whether this represents an act of colonialism. Museums are now considering how they can dismantle hierarchies of knowledge in order to be more inclusive and ethical, and how they can support communities that were once colonized.
Most museums are not-for-profit and have a mission to provide public access to their exhibitions and collections. Their funding comes from a variety of sources, including membership fees, grants, foundations and private donors. These funds must be carefully managed and accounted for. It is important for museums to be transparent about their finances, so that the public can have confidence in their integrity and accountability.
In addition to their financial responsibilities, museums are responsible for their staff and the care of their collections. They must ensure that all staff members are appropriately trained and have opportunities for professional development. Museums also need to maintain and upgrade their facilities in order to keep up with new technology and meet safety standards.
Museums must be able to communicate their value and significance to the general public in order to remain relevant and thrive. To do so, they need to have a clear and consistent definition of what a museum is. This will help them to develop a common language and to develop better partnerships with diverse communities.
The International Council of Museums (ICOM) has been working on the new definition for more than 18 months, and will be voting on it at its extraordinary general assembly in Prague this August. Over the course of the consultation process, ICOM Define has spoken with more than 126 ICOM’s national committees representing more than 50,000 museum professionals. This is the largest outreach project in ICOM’s history.