Song Xinchao, chairman of the China Association of Museums， deputy director of the State Bureau of cultural relics addresses at the opening ceremony.

    Tian Kai, the director of Henan Museum hosts the opening ceremony.  

The theme seminar of the safety committee of the International Council of Museums- ICOM opened at the conference and exhibition center of Zhengzhou Henan province on Oct.19, 2015. It is the 41th conference. This year, the conference theme of ICOM safety committee is about the technological innovation.

The director general of State Administration of Cultural Heritage，the president of the Asia Pacific Museum Association，Song Xinchao, the director of the Chinese Museum Association, Kang Jie, deputy director of Henan Provincial Department of culture, Tian Kai, the director of Henan museum and some other related leadership attend the general assembly.

Totally, more than 150 domestic and foreign experts attend the general conference. Among them, there are about 27 representatives of the International Committee on Security Council coming from 22 museums, more than 100 representatives of the member unit of China's Security Professional Committee coming from 60 main museums at home and abroad attending the conference.

Song Xinchao, chairman of the China Association of Museums， deputy director of the State Bureau of cultural relics addresses at the opening ceremony.Wan Xu, Deputy Secretary General of the Henan provincial government makes a speech.Mr. Wiliam, the Chairman of the Security Council of the International Council of Museums addresses at the opening ceremony.Tian Kai, the director of Henan museum hosts the opening ceremony.

There are three main contents of this conference. First one of them is the summary and review the past year of the work of the International Council of museums in 2014. The second one is the discussion and communication about the application and innovation of science and technology in the security management of the museums and cultural heritage. And the third one is the discussion of the next year's work plan and other related matters.

The conference will last a whole week. The experts and all the delegates attending the meeting will also visit the sights of Henan.

Something about the International Council of Museums- ICOM

Over the years, ICOM has evolved in accordance with international museum professionals’ needs worldwide, keeping in mind its main mission. More than 60 years after its creation, the organisation continues to represent the global museum community.

1946 - 1947: ICOM is bornWithin a year of its creation, two meetings marked the birth of the International Council of Museums. The first took place in Paris on the occasion of ICOM's creation at the initiative of Chauncey J. Hamlin (US) who became the first president of the organisation. The second meeting, the organisation's first General assembly, took place in Mexico.

This legislative initiative aims at improving not only the protection of cultural property in Germany but will also ensure the efficient implementation of new EU law as well as the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. It is indeed meant to reinforce the application of the existing regional and international legal framework, and by doing so will improve the protecting of cultural objects at risk of illegal trade.

All EU Member States have to implement the new Directive 2014/60/EU of May 2014 before the end of this year. Germany uses this obligation as an opportunity to revise and update its national law that in parts dates back to 1955.

It should be recognised as the responsibility and duty of every State around the world to protect cultural heritage, and every endeavor in this regard is welcomed and encouraged. The increasing number of on-going conflicts that are putting cultural heritage at high risk around the world requires that we all take responsibility in safeguarding our common past and history against destruction, looting and illicit trafficking in cultural property.

The International Council of Museums works for society and its development. It is committed to ensuring the conservation, and protection of cultural goods.

International Missions

Establishing Standards of Excellence

ICOM sets standards for museums in design, management and collections organisation. The ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums is a reference in the global museum community. It establishes minimum standards for professional practices and achievements for museums and their employees. By joining ICOM, each member is committed to respecting this code.

Leading a Diplomatic Forum

ICOM is officially associated with multilateral international conventions on heritage. As a diplomatic forum made up of 136 countries and territories, it gathers international professionals, renowned for their contribution to culture.

Developing the professional network

With more than 35,000 members, ICOM is a unique professional network of institutions and museum professionals. ICOM brings together museum experts to discuss various museum-related themes.

There are many prestigious museums among the International Council of Museums institutional members like the Metropolitan Museum in North America, the Palace Museum in Asia or the Louvre in Europe.

Museums of Science and Technologies, Fine Art Museums, City Museums of regional museums, European, African, Oceanic, Asian or American museums are all represented by ICOM, embodying the global diversity of the museum community.

Leading a Global Think Tank

ICOM's 30 International Committees conduct advanced research in their respective fields for the benefit of the museum community. They discuss and reflect on museum-and heritage-related issues.

An organisation created in 1946 by and for museum professionals.

A unique network of more than 35,000 members and museum professionals who represent the global museum community.

A diplomatic forum made up of experts from 136 countries and territories to respond to the challenges museums face worldwide.

A consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

118 National Committees and 30 International Committees dedicated to various museum specialties.

A leading force in ethical matters.

One of the founding members of the International Committee of the Blue Shield (ICBS).

This day is an occasion to raise awareness on how important museums are in the development of society.

ICOM Advisory Committee organises the theme of this event that, given the high number of countries involved, lasts a day, a weekend, a week or even a month.

From America to Oceania including Africa, Europe and Asia, this international event has confirmed its popularity.

These recent years, International Museum Day has been experiencing its highest involution with almost 30,000 museums that organised activities in more than 120 countries.

Culture across Boundaries: A conference on museum challenges and possibilities

Museums are important cultural institutions in every society. There is a long tradition of cooperation between museums across borders in the Nordic countries. But the need for museums to continue to cooperate and develop institutions is growing, given an increasing demand for quality and a diminishing flow of resources.

This is especially important for smaller museums and museums that operate in more isolated fashion. Several of the Nordic countries have museums in less populated regions, where the culture is not confined to the local area, but has traditionally moved around and spanned borders. While the museums are thus smaller, they encompass extended geographical areas.

“The theme of the conference, Culture across Boundaries, reflects ICOM’s core task, to work internationally in order to support cross-border understanding,” said ICOM President, Prof. Dr Hans-Martin Hinz, in his opening remarks at the conference. “This conference here in Nuuk is a perfect example of the global spirit of ICOM.” Culture across boundaries thus simultaneously refers to cooperation across the Nordic countries, and to the fact that cultures are crossing national borders.

Challenges for museums in the Nordic countries were addressed in papers on climate change, travelling exhibitions, deaccessioning, collection management and more, with a panel that discussed the museum landscape in Greenland. One half-day was dedicated to a workshop on museum ethics. During the conference, the Greenlandic version of the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums was presented, while the Faroese version of the Code was published in 2014.

The chair of ICOM Denmark, Søren la Cour Jensen, rejoiced at the success of the conference, which drew more the 60 participants. "In Greenland, collaboration between museums is essential for the exchange of ideas and knowledge. With this conference, the professional network has broadened, for the benefit of not only Greenlandic museums, but for all the Nordic nations".