ICOM Award
Learn more about the ICOM Award for Sustainable Development Practice in Museums
About the ICOM Award
In 2023, ICOM launched the first global award that recognises innovative initiatives and exemplary museum practices in sustainable development.
ICOM, as a global organisation, aims to demonstrate the various ways in which the museum sector contributes to sustainable development; and inspire museums and museum professionals everywhere in the world to begin or strengthen their efforts for sustainable development in practice. The project was developed in line with ICOM’s 2019 Kyoto Resolution On sustainability and the implementation of Agenda 2030, Transforming our World and the ICOM Strategic Plan.
At ICOM’s 27th General Conference in Dubai, the Barbados Museum & Historical Society (BMHS) has been announced as the winner of the ICOM Award for Sustainable Development Practice in Museums for its project “Shared Island Stories Between Scotland and the Caribbean: Transnational Youth Exchange.”
The ICOM Award in numbers
- 117 ICOM Bodies participated in the Endorsement Process
- 250 participants attended the ICOM Award Capacity Building Sessions which were organised with Curating Tomorrow and ICCROM
- 150 submissions were received from 60 countries during the call for applications which opened from May to November 2024
- 7 members made up the ICOM Award Jury, presided by the Chair of ICOM SUSTAIN, the International Committee on Museums and Sustainable Development.
- 130 projects constituted the longlist
- 25 projects were shortlisted
- 5 projects were selected as finalists
The ICOM Award Longlist
The ICOM Award longlist was published with the aim to recognise the efforts of museums around the world in contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals. The 130 projects were submitted across 5 categories: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership, based upon the five dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals.
This longlist reflects the diversity, creativity, and commitment of museums across the globe. It stands as a tribute to the professionals and institutions working to harness the potential of museums in building a more sustainable and equitable future.
The ICOM Award Shortlist
The 25 shortlisted projects represent the ICOM Award Jury’s selection of exemplary museum practices that contribute to the sustainable development of our societies. The list features museum initiatives that integrate the principles of sustainable development into their core missions, operations, and community engagement, demonstrating how cultural institutions can lead positive change for society.
The ICOM Award Finalists
After a rigorous selection process, five projects were selected by the ICOM Award Jury to be part of the finalists.
The projects were evaluated based on their (i) contribution to Agenda 2030 and SDG targets (ii) Impact and tangible results (iii) Inclusion and (iv) the outcomes of the projects based on the inputs.
- National Gallery of Victoria, Australia
- Barbados Museum & Historical Society (BMHS), Barbados
- Ghent city museum (STAM), Belgium
- Ars Aevi Museum of Contemporary Art Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Museums Association of Namibia / IDG, Namibia
Additional resources
Henry McGhie’s presentation about Agenda 2030 and the 5Ps
José-Luiz Pederzoli’s presentation about ICCROM’s Our Collections Matter Toolkit