In the context of the current global health crisis, we are launching a special Call for Articles for ICOM’s online editorial space, ICOM Voices. According to an ICOM Survey, more than 94% of museums are closed worldwide, and in 84% of those institutions, less than 25% of their staff is currently working on site. This will have serious repercussions for the economic stability of museums, the safety and conservation of their collections, and the cultural sector as a whole.
The aim of this call is therefore to foster collective reflection and dialogue on the impact of the current crisis on museums and to explore and highlight the solutions they are developing through digital channels.
We invite all ICOM members to share their experiences of this crisis by submitting articles or short personal accounts related to the themes below, in English, French or Spanish.
Tangible and Intangible Heritage Protection and Conservation:
- How is the current health crisis impacting the protection and conservation of (tangible and intangible) heritage within museum collections?
Museum Profession and Management:
- How does the current health crisis impact the working conditions of museum professionals and freelancers?
- Which issues are they confronted with?
- Which internal or external solutions can be considered?
- Have governments implemented emergency measures to support museums? Have any grassroots initiatives emerged to complement them?
Local Development and Communities:
- How can museums help communities cope with the crisis?
- What actions are being carried out by museums to support community resilience and foster the health and well-being of audiences and professionals?
Accessibility and Inclusion:
- How are museums maintaining the link with their audiences remotely, especially their most fragile visitors?
- How are museums preserving their educational mission by stimulating knowledge creation remotely?
We are interested in hearing about innovative digital initiatives on an institutional level, but also about how the crisis is affecting individual museum professionals and freelancers.
HOW TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL
To submit a proposal for ICOM Voices, please log in to your ICOM member space on the ICOM website and click on ‘Submit an article proposal for ICOM Voices’.
FORMAT
Please type a 100-word summary of your piece in the box provided. Full articles (700 words max.) and personal accounts (500 words max.) sent as an attachment will also be considered.
LANGUAGE
You can send your proposal in one of the three official languages of ICOM: English, French or Spanish. Please ensure that your proposal relates to one of the four themes specified above.
TIMELINE
The proposals received will be reviewed by the ICOM Voices editorial team. If your proposal is selected, we will contact you.
You can find guidelines on the submission of full articles and information on the editorial process here.
The ICOM Voices team thanks you all for your contributions.