What would happen if we do not change the museum definition?
In this new episode of “Seeking Change: A new museum definition”, we interviewed W. Richard West Jr., member of the ICOM Standing Committee on the Museum Definition, Prospects and Potentials (MDPP), and President and CEO of the Autry Museum of the American West.
The museum definition
Over recent decades museums have radically transformed, adjusted and re-invented their principles, policies and practices, to the point where the ICOM museum definition no longer seems to reflect the challenges and manifold visions and responsibilities.
The current definition, which has only seen minor adjustments over the past few decades, does not reflect and express adequately the complexities of the 21stcentury and the current responsibilities and commitments of museums, nor their challenges and visions for the future. As a result, ICOM invited its members, committees, partners and other interested stakeholders to participate in the development of potential alternatives for the museum definition in time for the 25th ICOM General Conference, which will take place in Kyoto, 1-7 September 2019.
