The word museum means “a place where people go to see objects of cultural or natural history or art.” There are many different types of museums, each with its own unique mission and focus. For example, some museums specialize in a particular area such as ancient Egypt or American history, while others focus on contemporary art.
Museums are usually non-profit organizations that are classified as charitable corporations. This allows them to receive tax benefits and keeps the money that they earn invested in the museum itself. However, some museums are private and for-profit, meaning they pay taxes like other businesses and use the money that they make to maintain and grow their collections and operations.
As a result, some museums have a much larger budget than others. The size of a museum’s budget can affect how much it is able to spend on collecting new objects or on putting on exhibitions and programs for the public. Some museums also have special relationships with other institutions that allow them to borrow objects or share exhibitions.
The International Council of Museums (ICOM) is a global network of museum professionals with 40,000 members in more than 141 countries. The organization has been working to reform the definition of a museum. Its old definition was outdated, and the organization struggled to come up with a new one that reflected the changing needs of its membership.
At the ICOM General Conference in 2019, a resolution to adopt a new definition was not passed. Many ICOM members felt that the proposed definition fell short of what a museum is. They felt that the definition did not address issues such as decolonization and repatriation, which are important topics for many museum institutions.
As a response to the need for more consultation, ICOM Define, the standing committee that oversees the museum definition process, formulated a methodology that would allow for greater transparency and careful listening to proposals. The new methodology is now open for consultation.
A museum is a permanent institution in the service of society and its development, open to the public, that acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for education, study and enjoyment.
In addition to the above, a museum may also serve as a gathering place, where community groups come together for social, cultural or educational activities. There are also museums that focus on particular communities or individuals, such as a museum for black culture or a Holocaust memorial museum.
There are also museums that do not have any artifacts and simply provide a space for visitors to learn about the past through stories, photographs and recordings. These museum experiences are often referred to as virtual museums.
The final category is a “museum experience.” This type of museum uses technology and innovative designs to create interactive and engaging experiences for visitors. Examples of this include an online art museum or a pop up museum that moves from one location to another.