Museum is a word that many of us associate with art or history, but the term is also used for a variety of other educational institutes and facilities. They offer the general public from all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to learn about, and become inspired by most forms of educational subjects. Museums exist in all shapes and sizes, from the Louvre (the most visited museum in the world) with its famous paintings of the Aphrodite known as Venus de Milo; the Regent Diamond; the Law Code of Hammurabi, king of Babylon; to the crypts at York Minster which was once home to the bones of William the Conqueror.
A museum is a not-for-profit permanent institution in the service of society and its heritage that researches, collects, conserves, interprets and exhibits tangible and intangible cultural and natural heritage and is dedicated to education, enjoyment, study, reflection, inspiration and preservation. It works in active partnership with and for communities, is open to the public and aims at sustainable development and promotes diversity and inclusion.
The new definition is a result of years of discussion and hard work by museum professionals and members of the International Council of Museums (Icom). It was passed at the Icom Extraordinary General Assembly in Prague, with 92% of the vote. The new definition challenges museums to move beyond the narrow idea that they are places to chronicle pasts and depict the present. It also calls for respect for the unique identity of objects and the needs of a diverse public.
It is a difficult challenge for museums to face. They must be willing to move away from a moralistic, ideological imperative that is geared towards political correctness, and which can transform a space of wonder into a didactic ordeal. It is essential that they take care to consider how collections were acquired and displayed, to avoid the pitfalls of identity politics and dehumanizing colonial history, and to respect the wishes of people who wish for their culture to remain intact.
The last line of the new definition, that’museums contribute to human dignity and social justice, global equality and planetary wellbeing’ is not something we would have thought about in the past but it is an important part of what museums need to do. It also helps to give a more holistic view of the role and importance of museums and their mission. Museums can be a powerful force in our societies, but they are also one of the most challenging institutions to manage and to change. They need to be constantly rethinking their roles and what they do, in order to continue to be relevant and make a positive impact. This new Icom definition is a big step in the right direction.