A museum is a cultural institution that holds, conserves, researches, and displays tangible and intangible heritage. Museums are public institutions, open to all, which engage with their communities and operate ethically and responsibly. Their collections inspire learning and foster understanding, and they are centres of culture, knowledge and creativity.
In the world’s largest museums, like the Louvre or National Art Centre in Tokyo, visitors are treated to vast collections of art and historical objects. They are sanctuaries of knowledge where ancient civilisations, classical masterpieces and contemporary works are preserved to be admired and interpreted. Museums are also places that can bring you closer to the people, places and stories of our shared human experience – if you can spare a few hours to slow down and explore.
There are countless different kinds of museums in the world, springing from what may be an innate human desire to collect and interpret. Some museums focus on a specific subject area, like art or science, while others are more expansive in their approach and have a broad spectrum of collection spanning multiple disciplines and geographies. They can be a place to learn about history and culture, or they can provide a space for civic pride and a sense of nationalism. Some museums, like the Griffith Observatory or the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, have few artifacts and do not call themselves museums, but they can still offer meaningful experiences for their visitors to reflect upon and enjoy.
Museums can be found in a variety of locations, including urban centres, natural habitats and remote locations. They can be run by governments, universities or private organisations. Most have a staff that includes curators, conservators and educators to care for the collection and to help visitors make meaning from it. Curators spend a lot of their time researching and learning about the objects in their care, while designers are responsible for creating exhibitions and other museum-related materials. Some museums even have horticulturists, architects and web designers on their staff.
In addition to a focus on learning and enjoyment, many museums aim to contribute to the development of their local societies in a number of ways. For example, by attracting tourism and supporting economic growth. Others strive to be places of cultural exchange, promoting understanding and facilitating dialogue between cultures. The new definition also aims to push museums to consider the diversity of their audiences, especially those within their own local communities.
The new definition marks the most significant reformulation of the ICOM definition in the organisation’s history. It has been developed through an extensive outreach project, in which representatives from 126 of Icom’s National Committees were consulted. These consultations were held over an 18 month period and across four distinct rounds. During the process, the Standing Committee for the Museum Definition listened to all proposals carefully. A full record of all the discussions is available for Icom members in the Museum Definition space. The new methodology will allow for greater transparency and a more democratic process going forward.