Museums are not just buildings full of stuff – they are sanctuaries for culture, history and art. They are places where you can spend a few hours or even a whole day, immersing yourself in the beauty and learning about something new. There are so many different types of museums in the world that it can be hard to categorize them, but they all share the same core elements. Museums are a non-profit, permanent institution in the service of society and its development, open to the public, that collects, preserves, researches, communicates and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage, contributing to human dignity and social cohesion and fostering sustainability and global equality.
There is a growing recognition that museums need to be at the forefront of addressing these challenges. It is a major task for the museum profession to create a shared body of theory that can help us understand the changing role of museums and guide our work. The study of this body of theory is called museology.
Some museums don’t have any artifacts but instead rely on a powerful narrative or an informative exhibition to engage the visitor. These experiences can be memorable, but they don’t have the same depth as a museum that has a rich collection of objects.
The first museums were founded to preserve and display a collection of objects for the public to enjoy. As museums have grown, their focus has shifted from just preserving the collections to interpreting and communicating them. This change has been fueled by a desire to connect with the public and an increasing understanding of how important it is to share our cultural treasures.
The most well-known museum is the British Museum, which has the most visitors in the world, followed by the National Museum of China and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Statista publishes annual reports of the most popular museums worldwide, based on ticket sales data.
Museums have long been a source of national pride, showcasing the cultural achievements of a nation and promoting national identity. During the 18th century, Napoleon’s conquest of Europe was accompanied by the collection and confiscation of cultural treasures, leading to museums being created across the continent to display his national glory.
In recent years, museums have been responding to the ongoing climate crisis through enacting sustainable museum practices and exhibiting works that address issues of global significance. For example, the Louvre capped the number of daily visitors during the Leonardo da Vinci show to reduce overcrowding and ensure a better experience for guests.
As museums continue to evolve in this time of accelerating change, it’s important to revisit and question their definitions so that they can best serve the public. A revised museum definition was approved by the ICOM General Conference in Prague today, incorporating important concepts such as inclusivity and community participation. The Standing Committee for the Museum Definition, ICOM Define, will be pursuing the next phase of the process with greater transparency and consultation.
