Why do museums collect? And how can they do it in an ethical, sustainable and professional way?
These will be the topics of the next workshop of the ICOM International Training Centre for Museum Studies (ICOM-ITC), which will be held in Beijing, China, from 10 to 18 April 2019. In this 12th edition of the training programme, Chinese and international participants and lecturers will discuss and exchange knowledge about collection documentation, long-term care of collections and the importance of management policies for collections.
The programme will follow the ICOM-ITC training method, which combines practice and theory with lectures, group work, discussions, visits to local museums, and a full-day excursion to cultural heritage sites around the capital.
Two types of grants
ICOM, ICOM China and the Palace Museum award two types of grants, full and partial. The full grant covers an economy-class air ticket, accommodation and local hospitality for the participant for the duration of the training workshop. Applicants residing in countries belonging to categories 2, 3 and 4, as defined in the ICOM membership grid, are given priority for this type of grant. You can find the membership grid at the end of this article.
The partial grant covers accommodation and local hospitality for the participant for the duration of the training workshop. Applicants residing in countries belonging to category 1, as defined in the ICOM membership grid, will be considered for partial grants.
ICOM or the Palace Museum will make the travel arrangements for participants with a full grant. Participants with a partial grant must book their own air ticket. Visa costs, insurance coverage and other expenses not explicitly stated above are at the cost of the participants. There are no registration fees for attending the training seminar.
How to apply
To be part of this workshop, ICOM members can apply if the meet the following criteria:
- Having paid their ICOM individual membership dues for two consecutive years including the current year of application, or, in the case of a new or reinstated ICOM membership, having paid membership dues for the year of application;
- Fluent in both written and spoken English;
- Occupying middle-management position in a recognised museum or public institution;
- Aged 45 years or under by 31 December of the year of application.
Applications must be accompanied by the following documents in English:
- A Curriculum Vitae of the applicant indicating training, work experience, publications and current work responsibilities (one page maximum);
- A fully completed Application Form;
- A motivation statement;
- A letter of recommendation from the director of the applicant’s institution;
- Proof of payment of 2018 membership fees (copy of the card with 2018 sticker or official document from the National Committee);
- A copy of the first page of the passport. IMPORTANT: Your passport needs to be valid at least until 20 November 2019.
The ICOM-ITC training workshops are intended primarily for ICOM members from countries with emerging economies, but applicants from other countries might be considered. All applications should be submitted by filling the online form before midnight (CET+1), December 16, 2018.
About ICOM-ITC
The ICOM International Training Centre for Museum Studies (ICOM-ITC), housed at the Palace Museum in Beijing, China, is a collaboration between ICOM, ICOM China and the Palace Museum. By providing inclusive and participatory training programmes for museum professionals, the centre is intended to “promote research and exchange among museums at an international level and develop the museum expertise of professionals from developing countries, especially those from the Asia-Pacific region,” where the museum sector is growing rapidly and there is a high demand for museum professionals.
