What is a "museum"?

In recent history, museums have been grappling with an identity crisis. Accused of accepting dirty money, privileging the same perspectives and stealing artefacts from other cultures, they have undergone a reckoning — objects returned, wings foreclosed and monuments toppled.

From the wreckage a new definition of museums has emerged, passed by ICOM - the International Council of Museums, a peak industry?body that comprises forty-thousand members - last month. It’s the first change in fifteen years.?

Helen Maudsley - 'The Imprint of What Was Once There'

The new definition is as follows:

“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.”

What’s new are the terms “inclusivity”, “accessibility”, “sustainability” and “ethics” — values of current culture that stand in contrast with the museum’s scholarly, elitist origins. Rather than a repository for history, ICOM asks museums to look to the future — it sees them as a constitutive force in building a more equal, inclusive and cooperative society.?

ICOM’s conception of the museum is not so different from Art & Collectors. For us, collecting art is about enriching society — preserving, interpreting, sharing and exhibiting material heritage. It’s not about wealth, fame or winning. By offering collectable, culturally significant art at a variety of price points, living alongside art becomes more accessible and inclusive. We’re passionate about bucking art market stereotypes by being transparent, approachable and fair.

Mirka Mora - 'Children and Bird'

Some members of the museum community claim ICOM hasn’t gone far enough. Their last attempt at revision however, was denigrated as going too far?—?dismissed as a bloated, politically charged manifesto. In answer, ICOM crafted a definition that seeks to acknowledge the myriad of roles museums play in our life and the good they can offer to individuals, communities and future generations.

Deborah Klein - 'Dragonfly'

But what’s lost in this diplomacy? Notably, the word “beauty” — perhaps it's a given, or maybe beauty has lost pride of place in the democratised museum. It is in the eye of the beholder after all. What do you think?

Explore what's new in our collection here.