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ICOM Italia's 10-point plan to revitalize museums

institutional · 2026-05-05

ICOM Italia, the Italian committee of the International Council of Museums, is urged to modernize its approach to better engage the public. The organization, a key reference for museum professionals globally, has been slow to adapt to changes in the museum world, despite a few timid updates. The article proposes ten actions: 1) Organize parties inside museums to blend music, food, and art. 2) Launch school-based campaigns to attract youth. 3) Offer free membership in exchange for volunteer work or thesis contributions. 4) Involve non-cultural experts in museum development plans. 5) Partner with local businesses. 6) Integrate museums into daily life through community engagement. 7) Push for a formal 'museum manager' role with MiBACT. 8) Create mandatory ICOM certification courses. 9) Provide services to smaller museums using ICOM's professional pool. 10) Establish a ranking system to measure museum performance. The author, Stefano Monti, argues that ICOM should become an open community rather than a closed club.

Key facts

  • ICOM Italia is the Italian committee of the International Council of Museums.
  • The article proposes 10 actions to revitalize ICOM's approach.
  • Action 1: Organize parties in museums combining music, food, and art.
  • Action 2: Launch school-based campaigns to engage youth.
  • Action 3: Offer free membership in exchange for volunteer work or thesis contributions.
  • Action 4: Involve non-cultural experts in museum development.
  • Action 5: Partner with local businesses.
  • Action 6: Integrate museums into daily life through community engagement.
  • Action 7: Push for a formal 'museum manager' role with MiBACT.
  • Action 8: Create mandatory ICOM certification courses.
  • Action 9: Provide services to smaller museums using ICOM's professional pool.
  • Action 10: Establish a ranking system to measure museum performance.
  • The article suggests ICOM should become an open community rather than a closed club.
  • The author is Stefano Monti, partner at Monti&Taft.

Entities

Institutions

  • ICOM Italia
  • International Council of Museums
  • MiBACT
  • Museo Salinas
  • Artribune
  • Monti&Taft

Locations

  • Italy

Sources