Museums are places where people come to learn about history and culture from artifacts that span the ages. While some people are quick to dismiss museums as boring, galleries across the globe have perfected the art of creating transcendent exhibitions that make learning about new cultures a rewarding experience. Whether it’s the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the State Hermitage in St. Petersburg, or Paris’s art-crammed Louvre, these museums attract visitors in droves to see the world’s top art and cultural treasures.
However, even the most iconic museums do not always receive equal acclaim. A number of museums have been panned by critics for the way they display their collections or for how they treat their staff. In some cases, these criticisms have prompted a rethink of the museum’s mission. But, in other cases, the changes are simply part of a regular update to ensure that a museum continues to be relevant.
A museum is a not-for-profit, permanent institution in the service of society that researches, collects, conserves, interprets, and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage, and does so in partnership with diverse communities and in a context of sustainability and ethics. Museums democratise spaces for dialogue about our common pasts and futures, promote tolerance and understanding and provide universal access to heritage, contributing to human dignity, social justice and planetary wellbeing.
While the definition of a museum is generally agreed upon, individual institutions may use different terms to describe themselves. For example, some may have a broader definition of a museum to include sites that document intangible heritage. Others might use a narrower definition of a museum to include only sites that contain historical and artistic masterpieces.
Each museum has its own unique role in society. Museums have many jobs, but the most important job is to protect and share cultural heritage with the public. This is why museums are such an invaluable resource. Museums also have many other roles, including administrators who handle the business side of a museum, curators who put together exhibitions, archivists who maintain records on the history of the museum and its objects, and conservators who are responsible for preserving artifacts.
In addition to these roles, museums have designers who create brochures, website designs, and floor plans for the buildings and spaces. They also have educators who lead tours and teach visitors about the objects in their collections. Architects and horticulturists may be found at some museums as well.
Every few years, the International Council of Museums (Icom) reformulates its definition of a museum in order to keep up with changing times and the needs of its members. This year, at the Icom Extraordinary General Assembly in Prague, members approved a revised definition that includes, for the first time, references to inclusivity, accessibility and sustainability. The definition was created following extensive outreach to museums around the world by Icom Define, with input from over 126 Icom committees in four rounds of consultation.