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 the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment. Museums are democratising, inclusive, polyphonic and dynamic spaces for dialogue about the past and future, enabling societies to better understand their history and culture, contributing to human dignity and social justice, and planetary sustainability.
The majority of museums are collections of art, history and science objects in a particular country or region. Some also have ethnographic and archaeological collections as well as natural history objects. Museums in most countries have staff and volunteers who work to care for the objects as well as help educate the public about them.
In addition to curators and archivists, museum staff may include educators, librarians, horticulturists, registrars, graphic designers, development officers, business managers, gift shop employees, security staff and volunteers. At larger museums, these roles are often specialized into distinct departments or divisions.
A museum’s collection and activities are shaped by its mission, which is usually based on the organization’s goals and values. It is important for a museum to have clear, articulate, and up-to-date policies about the collection, exhibitions, and other activities. These should be published and available for review by the museum’s stakeholders. The American Alliance of Museums has a set of museum standards that are widely adopted and used by many museums in the United States.
Whether it is an historical museum, art gallery, or science center, a museum has a responsibility to be transparent with its visitors about the history of the collection and how it was acquired. In addition, museums have a duty to be respectful about the cultural and social context of the objects in their collections.
The definition of a museum is a complex issue, and one that has been debated for centuries. In the 18th century, Napoleon collected art in his conquered European cities, claiming it for France, and eventually creating what we know today as the Louvre. Museums today must balance the need to preserve valuable objects with a growing emphasis on educating the public.
A recent proposal from the International Council of Museums (ICOM) aims to update this definition for the modern world. The new definition challenges museums to cede institutional authority and shift their objective from transmitting expert knowledge to fostering dialogue and connection.
The draft definition was the subject of the largest outreach project in ICOM’s history. Representatives from 126 ICOM National Committees were interviewed during four rounds of consultation by the ICOM Define committee. The final proposal will be put to a vote at ICOM’s General Assembly in 2022. The results of the consultation will be published in advance of the vote. In the meantime, museums should continue to strive to be inclusive, polyphonic, democratising and dynamic spaces for dialogue about our shared heritage. They should also be aware of the challenges posed by the current global political landscape, including decolonization and repatriation issues.