Museums are sanctuaries of art, history and culture; places that help you slow down, look closely, and gain new perspectives on everything from ancient civilisations and classical masterpieces to complex conflicts. They are designed to change the way you think about the world, making the world a better place to live in. Museums are also places that attract crowds, and for good reason. The best museums in the world captivate visitors with their carefully curated collections and transcendent exhibitions. Whether you are a museum lover or a museum hater, you can’t help but be moved by the beauty and power of these remarkable institutions.
The earliest museums were private collections of art and historical objects. People collected these items for many reasons: to make sense of the past; to create a personal collection that reflected their values and beliefs; to impress others; to enhance their social status; to gain prestige; or to communicate a particular ideology. Museums have also been established as recreation facilities; scholarly venues; education resources; centres of cultural heritage preservation; and even to promote civic pride or nationalistic endeavour.
Today, museums have a unique opportunity to address some of the most pressing social issues of our times. Increasingly, museums are being asked to be more inclusive and to work with communities to share their heritage. They are also being challenged to reconsider their role as gatekeepers of a national or global narrative. They are being encouraged to rethink their pedagogical approach, to embrace the diversity of their audiences, and to move beyond being seen as “a box in which we store the treasures of the past.”
For a long time museums have had a problem with how they engage with communities. As the recent controversy around Black Panther illustrated, some museums exhibited objects with dubious provenance and tended to view non-western cultures through a western lens. The old ICOM definition supported this practice, stating that museums acquire “the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity.”
The new ICOM definition approved on August 24th by the ICOM Extraordinary General Assembly was developed through a process based on greater transparency and careful listening to the proposals submitted during Consultation 1. 126 National Committees, International Committees, Regional Alliances and Affiliated Organisations contributed their ideas and views to the project. They were able to comment on the five proposed definitions and rank them in order of preference for their use in future activities.
The definition adopted by the ICOM Extraordinary General Assembly reflects the collective desire of our membership to move beyond the limiting and narrow concepts of what a museum should be in order to foster a more inclusive and equitable world. It is a significant step forward, but it will be crucial to ensure that this consensus is put into practice and that the new definition truly reflects the current needs of our profession. This will be the challenge for the next generation of museum professionals.