Ny definition af museer

Den internationale museumssammenslutning ICOM har efter en flerårig proces vedtaget en ny definition af et museum:

“A museum is a not-for-profit, permanent institution in the service of society that researches, collects, conserves, interprets and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage. Open to the public, accessible and inclusive, museums foster diversity and sustainability. They operate and communicate ethically, professionally and with the participation of communities, offering varied experiences for education, enjoyment, reflection and knowledge sharing.”

I forhold til den tidligere definition indgår enkelte nye begreber og opgaver i definitionen. Den tidligere definition benyttede ikke begrebet “interprets” (fortolker). Det er også nyt, at museerne skal være “accessible and inclusive” og bidrage til “diversity and sustainability”.
Den gamle definition krævede heller ikke, at museerne skulle virke “ethically, professionally and with the participation of communities”, ligesom behovet for “reflection and knowledge sharing” er nyt.