The International Council of Museums (ICOM) is a global network of 40,000 museum professionals in more than 141 countries and territories. The organization is preparing to vote on a new definition of “museum.” This definition is meant to challenge museums to cede some of their institutional authority to their communities, and to shift from transmitting expert knowledge to fostering dialogue and connection. The new definition states: “A museum is a non-profit, permanent institution in the service of society and its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage for education, study and enjoyment.” The word “communicate” was added to emphasize that museums communicate with their visitors and community members. It also stresses that museums don’t own their artifacts but “hold them in trust for the benefit of the world’s diverse communities.”
The museum profession has a long and complex history. It grows out of the Wunderkammern, or Cabinets of Curiosities, that were built by royal courts in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. In the 18th century, Napoleon confiscated private collections as he conquered Europe, and the Louvre became one of the largest museums in the world when it opened to the public in 1824.
Several different professional fields make up the museum workforce. Museum curators, directors and managers oversee the museum’s operations and manage its collections. They must be knowledgeable about the objects they collect and the history of those collections, and they are responsible for ensuring that their institutions provide quality experiences to their audiences. They work with registrars and conservators to care for the museum’s collections, and they plan exhibitions and other programs.
There are also museum educators, who train museum staff and develop educational materials. They also work with museum administrators to develop educational initiatives and programs for school children. Educators also have to be familiar with the needs and concerns of their community, which often means working with racial, ethnic and religious minorities. Museum educators must also be able to help their colleagues embrace diversity in their workplaces.
Finally, there are museum planners, architects and interior designers. They help design and build museum buildings, and they create the spaces where visitors will encounter the objects and programs. They also help ensure that the museum’s buildings are sustainable and environmentally friendly. Facilities managers are in charge of keeping the museum’s building safe and comfortable for its visitors. They work with janitors, labor and utilities staff, and restaurant and hospitality workers to keep the building running smoothly. Fundraisers raise money to support the museum’s work and to help with its collections and operations.
A few museums do not hold many or any artifacts, but these institutions are still considered to be museums if they have memorable and meaningful stories and information that can be communicated in other ways. The Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles and the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia are examples of places that are not physically filled with artifacts but are nevertheless considered to be museums because of their strong mission statements, compelling narratives, and enduring impact.