What is a ‘museum’? A revised definition looks forward, not back.

Posted on August 28, 2022
By lillia.mcenaney
In Museum Anthropology Blog

Via The Washington Post, August 27, 2022

For the first time in 15 years, the International Council of Museums(ICOM), a nonprofit that makes recommendations and establishes standards around the world, has updated its definition of the word “museum.” Following a years-long debate over how ideological the definition should be, the final text includes new language about museums being ethical, diverse, accessible, inclusive and sustainable.

Approved by 92 percent of participants at ICOM’s general conference in Prague on Wednesday, the new definition describes a museum as “a not-for-profit, permanent institution in the service of society that researches, collects, conserves, interprets and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage.” The noteworthy changes come in the final two sentences, which read: “Open to the public, accessible and inclusive, museums foster diversity and sustainability. They operate and communicate ethically, professionally and with the participation of communities, offering varied experiences for education, enjoyment, reflection and knowledge sharing.”

Lillia McEnaney