Museums today are no longer neutral repositories of objects; they are dynamic agents of social transformation. The 2015 UNESCO Recommendation on Museums, Museum Collections, their Diversity and Role in the Society, and the revised ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums (ETHCOM) advocate for a new paradigm—one in which museums integrate sustainability, inclusivity, and ethical governance into all facets of their operations. This evolution aligns closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and calls for museums to become democratizing spaces that empower communities and protect cultural and natural heritage.
UNESCO's 2015 Recommendation emphasizes museums as “democratizing spaces” serving diverse and marginalized groups. To fulfill this vision, the ICOM Code must expand Principle 1.4 to explicitly include migrants, refugees, and underrepresented communities. Multilingual accessibility should be a requirement, not an option. For example, South Africa’s Iziko Museums have collaborated with Khoi-San communities to reinterpret collections, empowering Indigenous voices and honoring intangible heritage—an application of UNESCO’s 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
Museo Egizio, by an initiative of its director Dr. Christian Greco, has launched a pioneering initiative to translate its exhibition panels and labels into Arabic, fostering greater accessibility for Arab-speaking visitors. This inclusive effort aims to engage Italy’s Arab communities and promote cultural understanding through multilingual interpretation.
Environmental sustainability must move from aspiration to obligation. Principle 1.6 should align with the SDGs—specifically SDG 11 (sustainable cities) and SDG 13 (climate action)—by mandating carbon audits, LEED certifications, and local partnerships. The Sharjah Museums Authority’s solar-powered buildings and Zeitz MOCAA’s LEED-certified infrastructure are exemplary models.
Equally important is social sustainability: museums must guarantee fair wages, local hiring, and artisan inclusion, as practiced by the Museum of African Design in South Africa. Financial sustainability should be addressed through diversified funding models, such as the “30-30-30-10” structure combining public, commercial, philanthropic, and community resources, and long-term resource plans reviewed annually.
Principles 4.6 and 5.6–5.7 of the ICOM Code must be revised to institutionalize community co-governance. Museums should not merely consult communities; they must co-create narratives and share decision-making power. Te Papa Museum in New Zealand and the Museum of Black Civilizations in Senegal model this participatory governance, especially in handling sensitive heritage or Indigenous remains. Repatriation efforts, like those by Kenya’s National Museums involving the Ngasi community, highlight the necessity of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) as per UNDRIP (2007).
FPIC must also extend to any sampling of sacred materials, aligning with ICCROM guidelines. The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) has been internationally recognized for its commitment to environmental sustainability. In 2024, it became the first museum in Africa and the Middle East to receive the EDGE Advanced Green Building Certification from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), acknowledging its resource-efficient and climate-smart design and construction. Additionally, in 2022, GEM was honored the Best Green Building Project Award for Green Building and Sustainability according to the Egyptian Green Pyramid System from the National Housing and Building Research Center.
The digital transformation of museums demands ethical protocols. Principle 2.3 should be updated to include consent-based digitization of Indigenous knowledge and ensure data sovereignty. UNESCO’s emphasis on safeguarding intangible heritage must translate into concrete digital policies that prioritize consent, control, and benefit-sharing with source communities.
In summary, museums must embed sustainability across their operations—environmental, social, financial, and digital.
Revised ethical wording must require inclusive curation, FPIC for sensitive heritage, and community oversight. As stewards of the past and innovators of the future, museums have a responsibility to act as equitable, carbon-conscious, and community-rooted institutions, contributing meaningfully to a more just and sustainable world.
Written by: DR Islam Ezzat, Assistant Lecturer, Department of Museums and Archaeological Sites Management.
Initiative Coordinator: Dr Rania Zidan
ليست هناك تعليقات:
إرسال تعليق