A museum is a not-for-profit, permanent institution in the service of society and its development, open to the public, which researches, collects, conserves, interprets and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage, for education, enjoyment and reflection. It has a staff, a budget and the obligation to communicate its activities to all stakeholders.
A large museum will have a director who is the head of the institution and will set policies and plans. He or she might be assisted by a deputy director and other department heads. There might be a curator of art, for example, or a curatorial assistant who is responsible for a particular object or collection. Curators spend time researching and learning more about the objects in their collections. They are also often involved in putting together exhibitions, either in their own museums or at others. Other staff members might be educators, architects or horticulturists. Other museums might even have web designers on their staff.
Some museums may be in a historic building that was once a palace or fortress, as is the case with the Louvre. This type of museum has a special responsibility to preserve its historical context, and it may also have to deal with the issue of who owns history in terms of determining whether or not it is appropriate to display objects that once belonged to another culture.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is one such institution that deals with this issue on a regular basis. In recent years the museum has displayed works from China that were donated by collectors. The controversy around this display exemplifies the issues surrounding cultural ownership and how it can be negotiated and resolved.
Museums are a source of pride and national identity, and they also serve as a tool for understanding our shared humanity. As we move forward, it is important to remember the legacy of those who came before us and continue to work towards a museum world that is truly global and inclusive.
Steven van der Beek is a former director of the Museum of Ethnology, Leiden and Museumpeil in the Netherlands. He has been an ICOM member for over 40 years and is a member of the Standing Committee on the Definition of a Museum (MDPP).
The first consultation round yielded richly varied responses from 23 National Committees, 6 International Committees and 1 Affiliated Organisation. They all help to inform the second round of consultation, which will be launched in 2022.
This is a very important question that every museum should be able to answer clearly. A clear definition will ensure that museums can continue to play an important role in our lives, in both their professional and everyday lives.
We invite you to participate in this crucial debate by submitting your comments or questions using the link below. Your participation is vital to ensuring that the new definition will be meaningful and representative of our collective voice. Thank you in advance for your support!