What is ICOM?

Founded in 1946, International Council of Museums (ICOM) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that is dedicated to the improvement and advancement of the world's museums and the museum profession as well as the preservation of cultural heritage. ICOM has over 17,000 members in 140 countries working through national and international committees and affiliated and regional organizations and embraces museums of every size and discipline in ever corner of the world.

ICOM Committees and the Secretariat

• ICOM has 111 National Committees which are the fundamental units of ICOM and the principal instruments for administration of membership and communication between ICOM and its members. In the U.S., the National Committee is housed with the American Association of Museums (AAM) forming AAM/ICOM. This symbiotic relationship affords members access to a full scope of international information and activities designed to broaden perspectives and strengthen skills in the study and practice of museum work.

• Twenty nine specialized International Committees represent different museums types and specific disciplines. ICOM members join one International Committee as a voting member and may belong as a non-voting member to as many committees as they choose. Through these committees, ICOM achieves its major objectives including exchange of information at international levels, development of professional standards, adoption of rules and recommendations, and realization of joint projects.

• The Paris-based Secretariat coordinates the activities of both National and International Committees and helps carry out ICOM's programs. It also houses the UNESCO-ICOM Information Centre; a collection is available for consultation by all ICOM members that serves as an important source of information related to ICOM's activities as well as the cultural heritage activities of UNESCO.

ICOM Meetings and Publications

• ICOM holds a General Conference, or Triennial, every three years. The next meeting, the 20th General Conference of ICOM, will take place in Seoul, Korea from October 2-8, 2004.

• Dates and locations for subject specific meetings, organized by committees and affiliates, can be found on the Calendar of ICOM Meetings and Events.

• ICOM publications include ICOM News, ICOM Red List, a study series, conference proceedings, periodicals, and monographs on museum-related subjects.

• Other Secretariat Activities include capacity building, community involvement, cultural tourism, combating illicit traffic in cultural property, working with intangible heritage, and risk management.

Return to AAM/ICOM