Renewing Museum Meanings and Action with Intangible Cultural Heritage

Bibliographic Data

ID6444473
AuthorsMichelle L Stefano (corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume33
Issue2
Pages197-206
Publication date2024-12-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueParagrana (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0938-0116 • E-ISSN: 2196-6885
PublisherR. Oldenbourg Verlag (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1515/para-2024-0035
OpenAlexW4405724315
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited6

On August 24, 2022, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) adopted a new Museum Definition after a multi-year process of membership consultation and debate. During its development, ‘diversity,’ ‘inclusivity,’ and ‘community participation,’ alongside heightened attention to ethics, emerged as key concepts that ought to shape understandings of contemporary museum functions and activity. In this light, I discuss the benefits of prioritizing intangible cultural heritage (ICH) in museum work, reflecting the values that have driven the process of redefinition, and that museum professionals strive to espouse. Against the current backdrop of mounting political, economic, sociocultural, and ecological challenges, I argue that raising ICH to a higher level of museological priority reframes museum approaches to community engagement with ethics and equity at the fore, where culture keepers are centered as the authorities of their living heritage through collaboration. In turn, fostering greater inclusivity and diverse community involvement in museological processes and programming can be achieved in more meaningful and lasting ways

Action (physics · Aesthetics · Art · Cultural heritage · Cultural heritage management · Environmental ethics · Equity (law · Intangible cultural heritage · Political science · Politics · Sociocultural evolution · Sociology · Anthropology · Conservation Techniques and Studies · Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation · Law · Museums and Cultural Heritage

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