Dear Collegues:
As previously noted on ICOM L (and in the latest issue of ICOM News), the
ICOM Executive Council is interested in updating the definition of the word
"museum" to be included in the revised Statutes. To include input from the
ICOM membership, a request for suggestions was circulated on ICOM L
following the June meeting of the Executive Council and Advisory Committee.
A number of members have offered ideas and suggestions, but the comments
have tended to be a review of past definition instead of a projecting a
clear vision for the future.
The discussion of an adequately meaningful definition of the word ³museum,²
as most of us know, has been an ongoing process. In 1946, the definition
included 36 words. Today it is 208 words in length and has the potential to
continue to grow. The definition was expanded in 1956, 1961, 1974, 1989,
1995, and 2001. It has become a menu of museum types that represent the
expanding interests of the museum profession instead of a definition of the
word. The present listing also serves the purpose of describing ICOM
membership possibilities. It is possible that the definition will continue
to grow until there is a separate listing for every institution,
organization, or museological entity, and each addition will be explained
(and perhaps correctly so) as being necessary for the profession.
The definition as amended by the 20th General Assembly of ICOM in Barcelona,
Spain, 6 July 2001 includes in Article 2 Definitions: ³A museum is a
non-profit making permanent institution in the service of society and of its
development, and open to the public which acquires, conserves, research,
communicates and exhibits, for purposes of study, education and enjoyment,
material evidence of people and their environment.² Section (a) gives
additional information about the application of the definition, and
sub-section (b) states, ³in addition to institutions designated as museumsı
the following qualify as museums for the purposes of this definition.² The
Articles proceeds to list various entities that have ³museum-like²
activities and concludes with three generalized sub-sections that embrace:
(vi) ³international or national or regional or local museum organizations,
ministries, or departments or public agencies responsible for museums as per
the definition given under this article;² (vii) ³non-profit institutions or
organizations undertaking research, education, training, documentation, and
other activities relating to museums and museology; (viii) ³cultural centres
and other entities that facilitate the preservation, continuation and
management of tangible or intangible heritage resources (living heritage and
digital creative activity); and (ix) ³such other institutions as the
Executive Council, after seeking the advice of the Advisory Committee,
considers as having some or all of the characteristics of a museum, or as
supporting museums and professional museum workers through museological
research, education, or training.²
Obviously, sub-sections (viii) and (ix) do not describe ³museums,² but
entities that may qualify for membership in ICOM because of their
museological association or contribution. Therefore, it would seem proper to
establish a workable definition of a museum, and give a second listing of
agencies and entities acceptable for membership in ICOM.
Other comments about the current definition, the wording ³non-profit making²
is confusing for some members of the museum community. The interpretation of
this expression implies that museums are not allowed to charge admission,
sell items in the gift shop, or access charges for facility use. Income
generation is often view as ³profit making.² In addition, the concept of
permanence is being challenged by the ³virtual² environment [as noted in
sub-section (viii)], just as the notion of acquisition may be outmoded when
dealing with intangible heritage, cultural centers, a places of remembrance
[also noted in sub-section (viii)]. And, the word ³conserve² may be
unsuitable for exhibition spaces that are permanent facilities but hold no
collections. Finally, the current definition places emphasis on describing
the museumıs activities instead of identifying the service outcome.
Perhaps a usable definition of ³museum² might be stated as:
³A museum is a not profit motivated entity in the service of society and of
its development that is accessible to the public and that presents,
maintains, or protects the tangible or intangible evidence of humankind and
the environment for the purposes of cultural enhancement, informal
education, enjoyment, preservation, or research.²
Once a suitable definition for ³museum² has been determined, a second
article can elaborate the qualifications for membership in ICOM.
Please direct your comments and suggestions to ICOM L for discussion, or
send them to Gary Edson, Museum of Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
79409 USA, <[log in to unmask]> or fax: +1.806.74201136.
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