The theme of this 12 months’s twenty seventh ICOM Normal Convention—the triennial occasion which brings collectively museum professionals from the world over—is “The Way forward for Museums in Quickly Altering Communities”. And there could possibly be no extra acceptable place to carry it than in Dubai, a metropolis which has skilled profound change in previous few a long time, together with a quickly growing cultural sector, whereas nonetheless sustaining its distinctive heritage and traditions.
Happening 11-17 November, this would be the first time that the Worldwide Council for Museums (ICOM)’s centrepiece occasion has been held within the Center East, Africa and South Asia area. It is going to make clear the area’s museum professionals and cultural innovators, lots of whom are working to vary the sphere not from international centres of affect however from rising cultural capitals.
The chairperson of the organising committee, Her Excellency Hala Badri, says that the occasion will likely be an inspiring international platform the place thought leaders, cultural professionals, and museum consultants can trade concepts, share data and construct significant partnerships to form the way forward for the museum sector.
“Pushed by its daring aspirations and deep cultural foundations, Dubai continues to complement the worldwide cultural panorama, celebrating range, championing inclusion, and positioning itself as a gathering level for artistic minds from each nook of the world,” says Badri, who can also be the director common of Dubai Tradition and Arts Authority. “Internet hosting ICOM Dubai 2025 displays the emirate’s distinctive capacity to convey collectively international consultants and rising voices to discover the evolving function of museums. Collectively, we are going to study how museums can protect heritage, ignite innovation and encourage dialogue throughout communities.”
A keynote handle will likely be given by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the chairperson of Dubai Tradition and Arts Authority (Dubai Tradition), whose management helped develop Dubai’s artistic economic system. Additionally talking will likely be Badri; Emma Nardi, the president of ICOM; Kamini Sawhney, the director of Bengaluru’s Museum of Artwork and Images; and Sumayya Vally, the principal of the South Africa-based analysis studio Counterspace.
The convention’s scientific programme will likely be divided into three strands: intangible heritage, youth energy and new applied sciences. There will likely be panel discussions, heritage excursions of the United Arab Emirates and the area, plus a gap social gathering held at Expo Metropolis Dubai.
Alongside the convention, the Museum Honest held on the Dubai World Commerce Middle will enable museum professionals to share the work they’ve been doing with their friends.
Based in 1946, ICOM is a worldwide organisation devoted to the perseveration, promotion and improvement of museums. It has over 57,000 members in 129 international locations, together with curators, conservators, educators and different museum professionals. The final ICOM Normal Convention was held in Prague in 2023.
ICOM Normal Convention, 11-17 November, Dubai. dubai2025.icom.museum
