Dear colleagues,
Allow me a personal comment: it has been fascinating to follow this
discussion on the definition of museums and I think we should be very
grateful to ICOM and in particular to Gary Edson, Geoffry Lewis and Bernice
Murphy for allowing, in fact inviting us to participate!
I agree with all who promote a short, clear and inviting definition, a
definition that is not 'protective', let alone 'all-inclusive', but
acknowledges the dynamic and above all diverse nature of our field.
Analysing the discussion so far, and all the points brought forward, I see 4
points emerging which seem to me to be the cornerstones of museums:
- institution
- collection
- research
- presentation
The shortest definition would then be:
"Museums are institutions that keep collections for research and
presentation"
I am fully aware of the great diversity of museums and all the possible
exceptions (private museums; museums without collections; museums that do
not perform research and even museums without a 'general' public). In
drafting our definition, we should not look at the exceptions, but at those
elements we feel that are essential for the profession in a whole.
Besides, Bernice has shown how elegantly in just a couple of lines we can
clarify what we mean with each of these 4 basic points.
Sincerely,
Steven W.G. de Clercq
Utrecht University, senior consultant Academic Heritage
Vice-Chair of UMAC, ICOM's International Committee for University Museums
& Collections
website: <http://www.icom.museum/umac>
Straatweg 17, 3603 CV MAARSSEN, the Netherlands
Tel: OO31-(0)346-567.573; Fax: 0031-(0)346-578.843
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
__________________________________________________________________________
On 16-10-2003 00:45, "Bernice Murphy" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Many thanks Peter, I will think on this. But you should also feel free to
> contribute directly to the suggested revisions on ICOM-L. I'm staying
> quiet a little while to allow others to react or propose more. I've always
> been careful about leaping into the ICOM-L discussions with my
> Vice-President identity.
>
> However I have a high degree of interest in this issue: to ensure that now
> the moment has come, a really good re-definition is achieved (and not -
> again - a bad compromise of differently angled possibilities, or
> bureaucratic alteration). This so easily occurs in ICOM, through language,
> cultural and other differences, and the difficulty that many have in
> shaping a debate carefully and constructively). We achieved a remarkable
> degree of movement forward in recent years through the Reform process and
> wonderful group-effort I chaired. A much better set of statements and ICOM
> documents is emerging.
> I'm now really concerned that we achieve a good new definition of museums.
> Best wishes,
> Bernice
>
> At 15/10/2003 09:27 AM, you wrote:
>> Dear Bernice
>>
>> Your definition is quite long. What about splitting it thus:
>>
>> Museums are permanent institutions that conserve and communicate
>> knowledge of the natural world and the cultural inheritance of humanity
>> through collections, records, memories, images, and sites. Museums
>> interpret
>> and research for present and future generations."
>>
>> It removes the possibly unnecessary and to my mind ugly "they care
>> for" and (less defensively) in public trust. I think it is really
>> important to keep any definition short.
>>
>> This is my personal comment.
>>
>> Sincerely
>>
>> Peter
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Peter Stanbury OAM, PhD
>> Chair, UMAC
>> ICOM's International Committee for University Museums and Collections)
>> Museums, Collections & Heritage
>> Vice-Chancellors Office
>> Macquarie University
>> New South Wales 2109
>> AUSTRALIA
>>
>> +61 (0) 2 9850 7431
>> +61 (0) 2 9850 75 65 (fax)
>>
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>> www.icom.org/umac
>> www.museums.mq.edu.au
>>
>>>>> [log in to unmask] 14/10/2003 11:37:58 am >>>
>> I have one more element to add to the definition I proposed last week.
>>
>> Reviewing the conversation about the important elements in our
>> re-definition of museums, I appreciate that 'research' is such an
>> important
>> value in the life of museums (and requires continued defence and
>> resources), that we would do well to make sure it is not lost from
>> public
>> consciousness - including all the ethical considerations attaching to
>> standards of scientific research internationally.
>>
>> I would be pleased to include it in the suggestion I made earlier,
>> adding
>> to Gary Edson's current list of options. I am still arguing for a
>> simple-sentence, readable definition for general public understanding,
>> but
>> one that also has intellectual integrity for the diversity of the
>> museum
>> profession today. I would therefore include 'research' towards the end
>> of
>> the statement I propose - NOT near the beginning, as in the various
>> older
>> ICOM definitions (where 'research' seemed straight away to present
>> museums
>> as focused primarily on the activities of the researchers, rather than
>> the
>> public as beneficiaries and social participants in the conservation of
>> cultural and natural heritage).
>>
>> The addition of 'research' would therefore make my suggestion read:
>>
>> "Museums are permanent institutions that conserve and communicate
>> knowledge
>> of the natural world and the cultural inheritance of humanity through
>> collections, records, memories, images, and sites they care for,
>> research
>> and interpret, in public trust, for present and future generations."
>>
>> Bernice Murphy
>>
>> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>>
>> Change ICOM-L subscription options, unsubscribe, and search the
>> archives at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html
>>
>> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>>
>> Change ICOM-L subscription options, unsubscribe, and search the
>> archives at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
> Change ICOM-L subscription options, unsubscribe, and search the
> archives at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Change ICOM-L subscription options, unsubscribe, and search the
archives at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html
|
