CODART, Dutch and Flemish art in museums worldwide

ICOM Approves New Museum Definition

On 24 August 2022 at a conference in Prague, ICOM has approved the proposal for the new museum definition. Following the adoption, the new ICOM museum definition is:

“A museum is a not-for-profit, permanent institution in the service of society that researches, collects, conserves, interprets and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage. 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.”

Representatives from more than 500 museums globally voted to pass the new definition at the ICOM Extraordinary General Assembly in the Czech Republic capital, with 92% voting in favor of the new definition. The new definition, which replaces the 50-year old statement, includes phrases like “inclusivity”, “accessibility”, “sustainability” and “ethics”.  Also see the Art Newspaper’s article for a report on the voting process and more background information.