Museums are sanctuaries of history and art; places designed to deepen our understanding of place, time and subject. They beckon us to linger, look closely and gain new perspectives on everything from ancient civilisations to classical masterpieces to contemporary works that tackle complex conflicts.
However, not all museums are created equal. While there is a lot of diversity in the ways museums operate, the common thread they all share is that they inspire people. Whether they do so through carefully curated collections and transcendent exhibitions, or by taking on challenging and sensitive subjects like climate change and the Anthropocene.
Traditionally, museums have been a space for the privileged to explore the world through their own heritage, and have been responsible for acquiring, preserving and caring for objects that are culturally significant. Museums have been at the forefront of collecting and displaying these objects for generations, but in recent years there has been an increasing awareness within the profession that museums can be spaces for everyone to learn and be inspired.
This led to the creation of ICOM Define, tasked with the task of updating our museum definition. It is an extremely important process, and one that has been accompanied by considerable debate and discussion.
Ultimately, ICOM Define has developed five museum definition proposals for consultation. These are now available for members to review in ICOM’s Museum Definition space. All ICOM members are invited to consult and comment on these proposals, which will be formally presented at the next ICOM General Conference in 2022 for a vote.
For those who might think that a debate over the definition of museum is a bit pointless, consider this: Most museums are not for-profit, which means that when you pay to visit your local museum, the money that you spend does not go into some owners’ pockets, or investors’ wallets. Instead, most museums are charitable organisations, and use any surplus to plan for future projects or improvements, or for essential operational costs.
In addition, many museums are run by a board of trustees, who act as guardians for the museum’s assets and mission following the wishes of the donor. There are some notable examples of this, including the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles and the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. In some cases, these institutions have few or no artifacts and do not call themselves museums, but are known for their powerful stories or information – such as the Holocaust Memorial in Washington. In other cases, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Louvre in Paris, there is a clear connection between the physical structure of the museum and its mission.