A museum is an institution that houses and displays collections of art, objects or cultural items. These collections may be in the form of an archive or library of books, documents or films, or an actual collection of artworks. Museums may also hold temporary or permanent exhibitions of art or historical or natural items. Museums are usually run by the state or local council, although some are privately run and for profit. Museums are usually free to enter, but may charge for admission for special or ticketed events.
A modern museum can be defined as an educational institution, public place of learning and a center for communication that gathers, conserves, researches, communicates, exhibits and protects tangible and intangible heritage – both past and present – for the benefit of future generations. Museums are open to all and act as active partners with communities. They are dynamic, flexible and sustainable institutions that foster engagement with history and the future.
Some museums are housed in historic buildings, such as castles and other ancient structures, while others are built specifically for the purpose of displaying their collections, such as modern buildings designed by famous architects. Some museums have an extensive collection of historic art, while other museums focus more on displaying contemporary or modern art. A museum may also display three dimensional art, such as sculptures, or a variety of mediums such as photographs, paintings, drawings and printmaking. A collection may be shown on a single room, or it may spread throughout an entire building, or even a whole complex of buildings.
The word museum comes from the Greek words for “house” and “love.” Early museums were private collections of interesting objects that a person would like to preserve or show to others. These collections were often referred to as cabinets of curiosities. As Napoleon I conquered Europe, he was collecting art and other objects from the cities he entered and later displayed them in his museums in Paris. In this way, museums became an important part of the nationalistic fervor that was prevalent in many European countries at the time.
In more recent times, museums have become an important part of a city’s economy. The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, for example, was constructed in a bid by the Basque regional government to revitalize the dilapidated city of Bilbao. Museums can draw tourists who spend money in hotels, restaurants and other businesses in a city. They can also create jobs in a city, especially for those with skills related to museum work.
In 2022, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) issued a new definition of a museum. It is a more expansive and inclusive version than previous ones, and was the result of an enormous outreach project that involved the participation of museum representatives from 126 of ICOM’s national committees. Museum leaders shared their perspectives on the museum’s role in society, reflecting on how museums meet the challenge of meeting changing social and environmental needs.
