Museums are democratizing, inclusive and polyphonic spaces that promote critical dialogue about the pasts and futures. They are places that collect, conserve, research, interpret and exhibit the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment, safeguard diverse memories for future generations, and aim at enhancing global equality and planetary wellbeing.
Some museums have a small collection, focusing on a particular type of art or artifact. Others are massive institutions that house entire collections, often in a single building or site. Some are free to enter, while others require a fee for admission. Some are run by a private organization or local council, while others are national or international. Museums are also part of universities and academic institutions, or they can be run by public authorities such as state governments or cities.
Many people think of museums as educational institutions. They teach students about a certain period in history or culture, or they might show the public how an artist worked or the techniques used to create an object. Museums are also a place where the public can learn about new technologies or scientific discoveries.
Depending on their size and resources, museums can be run by an executive director, board of trustees, or a professional museum association. Most have some sort of system of governance, such as bylaws, an institutional code of ethics and a collections policy. Museums also employ staff to carry out the day-to-day functions of running a museum. These may include staff who provide hands-on care for objects in the collection, curate exhibitions, or develop a new interpretation of an old object.
Some of the most well-known museums in the world are known for their impressive collections and famous attractions. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, for example, is home to paintings by artists such as Giotto, Simone Martini and Piero della Francesca, and has a reputation as one of the best art museums in the world. Other popular museums include the Natural History Museum in London, which attracts millions of visitors each year to see its famous dinosaur skeletons and other natural history objects.
The new ICOM definition of a museum challenges museums to move away from the old idea that they are institutions for “education, study and enjoyment.” Instead it emphasizes that museums must be more open to communities and work in partnership with them to understand their cultural heritage. It calls for museums to shift their focus from transmitting expert knowledge to facilitating conversations and connections.
In order to do this, museums need to find ways to inspire their audiences. Falk believes that this can be done by focusing on independent learning and deep audience engagement. It can also be done by embracing the concept of pop up museums, which have shown that a museum doesn’t have to be permanent to make an impact. In fact, a pop up museum can be more flexible and better suited to meet the needs of different communities than a traditional institution.