Yani asks me to elaborate on my definition of a museum.  This was:

"A knowledge base of the tangible and intangible evidence of the
cultural and natural inheritance of humanity.  Such a collection,
normally in the form of objects or specimens, preserves, promotes and
presents this heritage for the benefit of society and its development on
a non-profit, permanent basis. A museum is also a place, real or
virtual, to which the public have access to benefit from such
activities".

My intention was to provoke thought on the museum as a collection although,
as the definition indicated, a building or institution is also a museum.
There was very good reason for giving emphasis to the collection.

We are all involved with some aspect of the collection of the world's
cultural and natural heritage and its preservation and interpretation.
This collection may be of the tangible or intangible heritage and may be
virtual or real.  In the complexities and specialisms of contemporary
society these activities may be conducted in a wide variety of ways.  They
can be in different places - laboratories, studios, agencies, cultural
centres, training institutes, etc - and by different people - directors,
curators, conservators, educationists, information scientists, designers
etc - who may or may not work in the public sector and may be self-employed
or a member of a team.

An additional factor is that not all societies embrace the concept of a
museum as a building but most venerate the past and maintain collections of
"heritage" material.

The over-riding consideration of the definition must be that such
collections are maintained for the public benefit on a permanent basis.  The
peoples' inheritance is not for profit.

We need too to consider the purpose of the definition.  It is used for
defining membership of ICOM, it forms the base on which minimum standards
are developed through the Code of Ethics, etc.  It is also the basis on
which ICOM as a professional organisation develops the museum profession.
To suggest that ICOM is just an organisation for museums and museum workers
would severely limit the cohesion and development of the museum profession.

This is an important subject and I hope these thoughts contribute something
to the debate.

Geoffrey Lewis
Past-President of ICOM
Chair, ICOM Ethics Committee





----- Original Message -----
From: "Herreman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, October 19, 2003 4:00 AM
Subject: FW: Definition of a Museum


-----Original Message-----
From: Herreman [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Sábado, 18 de Octubre de 2003 08:39 p.m.
To: 'Geoffrey Lewis'
Subject: RE: Definition of a Museum


I think that Geoffrey´s definition points out a new approach to defining
Museum.
I like that. It seems to me it opens new ways to verbalize what a museum
is, not only how it looks or what it physically does but what it conveys
to society and what role it plays within society. Museums, from my point
of view, deal very closely with untangible issues through its exhibited
collections and the way they are exhibited.
Using Geoffrey´s basic "corps des idées" many societies, if not all,
have a "museum".From this main idea a definition could be sought that
also includes other features of today´s museums. Did I understand
correctly, Geoffrey?

-----Original Message-----
From: International Council of Museums Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Geoffrey Lewis
Sent: Miércoles, 08 de Octubre de 2003 05:07 a.m.
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Definition of a Museum


The work of the Ethics Committee and, I guess,  in defining membership
eligibility in ICOM is far more about the activities constituting a
museum rather than a building, institution or organisation that may or
may not be a museum. I think therefore we have to be more radical in our
approach todefining the term "museum".  To use the term as an adjective,
however, would be etymologically incorrect. There is, however, good
precedent in both English and French for its use in the context of a
collection - the reason for these activities.

I suggest the following definition, therefore, to develop argument on
this
basis:

Museum: A knowledge base of the tangible and intangible evidence of the
cultural and natural inheritance of humanity.  Such a collection,
normally in the form of objects or specimens, preserves, promotes and
presents this heritage for the benefit of society and its development on
a non-profit, permanent basis. A museum is also a place, real or
virtual, to which the public have access to benefit from such
activities.

Geoffrey Lewis

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