News

Pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues nationally and internationally the impact on us all is profound. Cultural institutions are dealing with the pandemic is a range of ways. An Australian guide for cultural insitutions has been developed and ICOM internationally has issued a message. More

Survey — affect of COVID-19

The third ICOM survey concerning the affect of COVID-19 on museums around the world is now online. The purpose of this anonymous survey is to collect and compare information on how the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak is affecting the museum sector and museum workers around the world. Take the survey now 

Survey — Museum Leadership Research Project

INTERCOM (ICOM international committe for museum management) has been working over the last 18 months on a museum leadership project.  The project's aim is to acquire a global picture of museum leadership, identify differences and consider the implications of the current pandemic for leadership in the immediate future.

The survey is targeted to museum directors and has been progressively distributed through a series of waves, of which we have now embarked on Wave 3.

Though we have striven to ensure participation from all regions of the globe, there are few responses from Australia! The deadline of 15 May is fast approaching and it would be good if more Australian museum directors could participate.

Links to the survey in ICOM's three official languages are included below:

• English survey
• Spanish survey
• French survey

2021 AGM

The AGM will be held Thursday 27 May 2021 and will be hosted by Vero Voting. More

Nominations

Nominations are open for the Executive Board of ICOM Australia. More

International Museum Day 2021

This year's theme for International Museum Day on 18 May 2021 is The future of museums: recover and reimagine. More

Update on museum definition

ICOM international has been progressing the work on revising and updating the definition of what constitutes a museum. Reports from ICOM Australia Chair Mat Trinca and the international committee are below:

  Museum definition summary from Mat Trinca (Chair ICOM Australia)
  Museum definition report

Cultural inquiry submission

ICOM Australia has made a submission to the Australian Government inquiry into Australia's creative and cultural industries. ICOM submission
Other submissions

ICOM funding available

ICOM has two significant funding opportunities now open:

• ICOM Solidarity Projects 2021
• ICOM (Regular) Projects 2021.

Applications are invited from ICOM National Committees, International Committees, Regional Alliances and affiliated organisations. Other organisations can partner with these ICOM Committees to submit applications.

ICOM’s Solidarity Projects funding
Aimed at mitigating and responding to the impacts of the pandemic (closing 13 December 2020). More

ICOM’s regular annual projects funding
For publications, training, research and other projects (closing 10 January 2021). More

Beirut museum support

Following the tragic and disastrous explosion in Beirut, ICOM has signed a declaration of solidarity with Lebanon, together with 26 other institutions of the international heritage community. The declaration commits to the support of recovery efforts. A preliminary Blue Shield report  on damage to Beirut museums has been compiled.

Power of cultural institutions

The Australian Parliamentary Friends of Museums Libraries and Galleries believe in the power and importance of cultural institutions at this time of national and international crisis.  Media release

ICOM Australia Justice equality diversity statement

ICOM Australia advocates for inclusive, participatory and sustainable museums. ICOM Australia stands against all forms of racial injustice and inequality and advocates for change.

As the leading membership body representing the Australian museums, galleries, heritage and archives internationally, we take an active part in ending racism in the heritage sector. More

Aboriginal heritage site destroyed

The destruction of the Indigenous Juukan Gorge rockshelters in Western Australia has drawn national and international attention. The significant site was located in Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) country in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

PKKP Aboriginal Corporation media release

Australia ICOMOS public statement

Image: PKKP Aboriginal Corporation

For past ICOM Australia news and e-bulletins see:

For more news see ICOM international's newsletter: