What Is a Museum?

A museum consists of a collection of art, artifacts or other cultural objects organized for the public to view. It is a not-for-profit institution that researches, collects, conserves, interprets and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage in service of society. It is inclusive, accessible and sustainable, operating and communicating ethically and with the participation of communities. It provides varied experiences for enjoyment, learning, reflection and knowledge exchange.

Museums have a long history, springing from what may be the oldest known collections of curiosities: private gatherings of interesting items for sale or display in a curio cabinet. They have also sprung from more formal efforts to build comprehensive collections of historical and artistic significance. Today there are many museums spanning every possible genre and scale, from a small room with an odd assortment of objects to huge complexes that rival the world’s most opulent cathedrals or palaces.

Despite the wide variety of formats, styles and sizes of museums, they share a common purpose: to preserve and communicate information and ideas for future generations. They are the repositories of our shared cultural legacy, providing a source of inspiration and insight into human creativity over time.

As such, they play a key role in society, acting as centres of culture and a place to foster and celebrate the diverse expressions of human creativity. They serve as important sources of education and research for their communities, as well as for the global community. They are a powerful catalyst for the creative economy, and provide an important resource in times of social and economic instability.

A major task facing museums in the 21st century is to make their work and services more relevant and accessible to a diverse range of people, including those who may not otherwise have access to them. It is a responsibility that requires a great deal of creativity, as well as an understanding of the complexity and diversity of what museums represent.

The International Council of Museums (ICOM) has just issued a new definition of a museum, the twelfth significant one in ICOM’s 76-year history. The latest version reflects changes in museum practice and a growing awareness of the need to address inequality, especially in museums’ international engagement.

The definition was developed following the largest outreach project in ICOM’s history, with museum representatives from 126 of the organization’s National Committees speaking with more than 50,000 members over an 18-month period and through four distinct rounds of consultation.

It is hoped that the new museum definition will be adopted at the next ICOM General Conference in 2022, to replace the current definition which has been in use since 1946.

It will be a useful tool for museums, which are increasingly expected to address societal needs, and to demonstrate how their services contribute to the sustainability of the sector. It will also be beneficial to the organizations that support them and to the public, who will benefit from more consistent, transparent standards for recognizing and valuing museums around the world.