Best Practices

• Outstanding Museum Practices Award

  

  In light of the closure of museums due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, CIMAM wishes to call attention to the exceptional work being carried out by our museums and peer institutions around the world at this critical time.

• Museum Watch Governance Management Project

  

  The Museum Watch Governance Management Project is a report convened and led by INTERCOM and CIMAM and produced thanks to an ICOM Special Project Grant to help the museum community address governance management challenges more efficiently.

• A set of Ethical Clauses of Governance to protect and support museums and their staff

  

  These clauses are intended to address the growing vulnerabilities museums face in relation to interference, increasingly political, from their ‘Founders’ or ‘Governing Bodies’ which can undermine the Museum’s mission and values and their ability to operate with the curatorial independence.

• ICOM approves a new museum definition

  

  On August 24th, 2022, in the framework of the 26th ICOM General Conference held in Prague, the ICOM Extraordinary General Assembly approved a new museum definition.

• ICOM Code of Ethics

  

  The ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums sets minimum professional standards and encourages the recognition of values shared by the international museum community.

• ICOM Standards on Fundraising

  

  The following standards elaborate on the principles of the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums concerning the development of financial resources for a museum through fundraising. In this document, financial support refers to money raised by a museum from external sources including individuals, philanthropic organizations, foundations, businesses, and governmental bodies. In all circumstances, museums must comply with all applicable laws related to raising funds for its activities and should reference the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums as a cornerstone of all fundraising policies.

• ICOM Standards on Accessioning

  

  The following guidelines elaborate upon the principles expressed in the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums concerning the acquisition and accessioning of objects for museum collections.

• CIMAM General Principles of Deaccession

  

  Professional codes of practice and ethical standards for institutions and individuals generated and adopted by CIMAM in 2009.

• Ethic Code and Conflict of Interests Policy

  

  Here you will find Art Museum Codes of Ethics and Codes of Conduct and Conflict of Interests Policies that have been shared generously by Members of CIMAM to be read as a reference.

• Museum Best Practices for Managing Controversy

  

  CIMAM officially endorses the Museum Best Practices for Managing Controversy guidelines.

• Professional Practices in Art Museums

  

  Published by the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD). Museum directors and others responsible for museum governance are urged to review carefully and be guided by the professional principles outlined at this guide.

• CIMAM Advocates for Museums for Modern and Contemporary Art at a time of World Crisis

  

  At a time of social, economic and ecological crisis around the world that has been further intensified by the Covid-19 pandemic, the role of museums has never been more important. We congratulate UNESCO on their report on Museums Around the World in the Face of Covid-19, that outlines the social as well as the economic impact of some 85,000 museum closures.

• Precautions for Museums during Covid-19 Pandemic

  

  CIMAM, the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art, is sharing this document based on the examples of the National Gallery Singapore, M+ Hong Kong, and Mori Art Museum in March in response to the outbreak of Covid-19. CIMAM will continue to share experiences of how museums are responding to the pandemic over time.

• Links to useful networks

  

  A list of links to other networks dedicated to support and defend the rights and general standards of contemporary art professionals.