18. 12. 2020.

ICOM Museum definition – Letter ICOM Define (previously MDPP2)

Letter ICOM Define
Welcoming words to the new methodology and Invitation to Consultation 1

Aiming to respond to the need for a democratic and open process of consultation to the National Committees, International Committees, Regional Alliances and Affiliated Organizations that constitute ICOM, the Standing Committee for the Museum Definition formulated a new methodology going forward. The design of this methodology is based on greater transparency, as well as the careful listening to all proposals. At this point, members of MDPP2 agreed that a change in the name would be advisable and it was requested to the ICOM leadership that the new name be ICOM Define: Standing Committee for the Museum Definition.

Museum Definition: A way forward

The approved methodology, greatly based on the expressed need for consultation, moves towards a new phase of this process, aiming to arrive at the next ICOM General Conference in 2022 with a museum definition proposal to be submitted for a vote. The methodology is based on 4 rounds of consultation, divided into 11 steps with a duration of 18 months. The proposed schedule begins on December 10, 2020 and ends in early May 2022, but may be adjusted depending on the circumstances. Dates are provided in the following methodology so that committees can arrange, well in advance, the activities they must coordinate for consultation of their constituents. Results will be published periodically and made available for the membership in this “Museum Definition” space, where it is possible for members to consult all the documents related to the Museum Definition reformulation project, including all documents produced by the MDPP, as well as the reports of surveys and activities conducted by several committees since Kyoto 2019. ICOM Define encourages members and committees to review all of these documents, as well as the previous museum definition proposals, and the ICOM Code of Ethics and Statutes when considering their responses.

For each step of the consultation committee chairs will be receiving official communication from the Secretariat with instructions and deadlines for submitting their responses. Throughout the entire process, committees have the liberty to create their own procedures of consultation with their membership, to thereby fulfill each step of the methodology.

In case you missed it, here is the link to the Webinar launch on December 10.

Consultation 1 – Results of discussions and reports of activities post-Kyoto 2019

We welcome all committees, regional alliances and affiliated organizations to send the Secretariat their work conducted up to this date that relates to the museum definition for publication on the Member Space page. For those who already sent them in, please check the Museum Definition page on Member Space to see if your material is there. The main goal of this step is for Committees to report what they have developed in the past year.

We also request that they preface their reports with a brief abstract that contains the main terms of their discussions (not more than 100 words). Please submit your materials in one of the three official languages of ICOM (English, French or Spanish).

Submissions should be made to the following address: training@icom.museum

Deadline: 1 month [10 Dec. 2020 – 10 Jan. 2021]

The new process, based on innovative ways of participation, invites members and committees to engage in the elaboration of a new museum definition, and its success largely depends on the involvement of the greatest number of committees possible.

We warmly welcome your responses to the various stages throughout this process. ICOM Define is committed to open communication during the entire process. Please, don’t hesitate to contact us.