24 August 2022
ICOM Museum Definition
"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."
ICOM website link: https://icom.museum/en/resources/standards-guidelines/museum-definition/
The International Council of Museums - ICOM - is a global network whose members are transforming their museums and communities by adapting new and challenging ideas about museum practice from every continent. ICOM advocates on behalf of museums in high level international and transnational forums such as UNESCO.
Join us and benefit from opportunities to connect with colleagues internationally and keep abreast of trends and issues in museum sectors around the world.
When you join ICOM, you become a member of ICOM Aotearoa New Zealand, which is ICOM’s National Committee for New Zealand. Your membership gives you members’ access to a range of ICOM resources, newsletters, the journal Museum International and online publications, as well as news of the organisation, current issues and notice of ICOM meetings and events both globally and online.
Your ICOM membership card gives you free or reduced admission to many museums and art galleries across the world. In Aotearoa New Zealand, six museums and galleries offer free admission and/or special exhibition rates: Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland Museum, MOTAT, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, Te Papa and Otago Museum.
Your membership enables you to affiliate to one primary International Committee as a voting member. The International Committees are special interest groups covering professional areas of activity both thematic and functional. They each hold annual conferences, online activities, producing their own publications and communications, and are an excellent way to contact people working in similar fields or roles overseas.
There are 32 International Committees covering different areas of museum activity such as Costume, Management, Security, Decorative Arts and Design, Ethnography, Military History and Regional Museums. See the ICOM Committees Directory for details.
Our international colleagues are always keen to learn about the pioneering museum work happening in our institutions and partnerships. They would love to meet you! ICOM members are entitled to enrol for ICOM events at the lower membership registration fee rates and may also be eligible for training opportunities and grants.
International conferences
After 25 successful editions, ICOM’s flagship triennial conference has become a worldwide hub for exchange about the topical issues museums tackle today, as well as the most innovative solutions.
We have agreement to hold the Commonwealth Association of Museums (CAM) triennial conference in Aotearoa New Zealand to be co-hosted by Auckland War Memorial Museum and Waikato Museum in 2024. This will be confirmed closer to the time, subject to the practicalities of COVID.
Your ICOM Aotearoa New Zealand Board
Current Board Members are
- Liz Cotton
- Tamara Patten
- Alba Letts
- Maree Laurent
- Darryl Pike
- Alice Lee
- Liz Etzle
We are working to initiate and support ways to engage our members with ICOM activities overseas and online and in Aotearoa and would love you to join us.
Membership
ICOM's membership subscriptions run from 1 January to 31 December. All current members receive a renewal invoice in December.
Membership is arranged by the National Committee. For 2022 standard individual membership fees are $165 (no GST), or $85 for students/retirees. There is no reduced fee for joining part way through the year.
Institutional membership is also available. Individual membership is open to museum professionals, including academics, students, people providing service to and working in museums and art galleries.
Join our network or contact us
Download an Individual membership form (PDF, 373KB)
Download an Institutional membership form (PDF, 400KB)
Get information about membership types and eligibility - ICOM website
Contact us at icom@icomaotearoa.org.nz
