AVICOM –Audiovisual, Image and Sound, Multimedia and New Technologies

AVICOM promotes the use of audiovisual methods and new technologies in museums. A photography working group is compiling a directory of art and documentary photographic collections in museums the world over. The multimedia working group is devoted to cinema, video, multimedia and the internet. It offers workshops and organises the International Audiovisual Festival on Museums and Heritage (FAIMP).

CAMOC – Museums of Cities

The International Committee for Collections and Activities of Museums of Cities is one of ICOM’s newest International Committee. It brings together people interested in the role of museums in cities, including urban planners, historians, economists, architects or geographers, to share knowledge and experience, exchange ideas and explore partnerships across international boundaries.

CECA – Education & Cultural Action

CECA offers a platform to exchange ideas about museum education, promote the educational roles of museums and improve professional standards in museum education throughout the world. It strives to ensure that museum education is part of the policy, decisions and programmes of ICOM. CECA holds annual conferences and publishes conference proceedings, a newsletter and an annual review entitled ICOM Education.

CIDOC – Documentation

CIDOC is dedicated to the documentation of museum collections. It comprises curators, librarians and information specialists interested in documentation, registration, collections management and computerisation. Members receive a newsletter and may participate in a number of working groups on data standards, multimedia or the internet.

CIMAM – Modern Art

CIMAM is a forum about the collection and exhibition of modern and contemporary art. Its members meet on an annual basis to discuss practical, ethical and philosophical questions in this field. The committee’s goal is to encourage cooperation between modern art museums worldwide and to promote the role of these museums in social and cultural development.

CIMCIM – Musical Instruments

CIMCIM’s activities relate to collections and museums of musical instruments. Working groups focus on various aspects including traditional instruments and an International Directory of Musical Instrument Collections. Members get a regular CIMCIM Newsletter.

CIMUSET – Science & Technology

CIMUSET is composed of museum professionals in the field of science and technology. It looks at the part that traditional museums and contemporary science centres play in popularising and promoting science and technology among young people. 

CIPEG – Egyptology

CIPEG promotes the study and preservation of Egyptian collections, monuments and sites in close co-operation with the International Association of Egyptologists (IAE).

COMCOL– Collecting

COMCOL is concerned with the practice, theory and ethics of collecting and collections. It encourages innovation and development of museum collections in the modern global context. COMCOL addresses issues of tangible and intangible heritage, contemporary collecting, restitution of cultural property, respectful practices, de-accessioning policies, etc.

COSTUME

The Costume Committee focuses on the study, interpretation and preservation of all aspects of apparel. It enables members to share expertise in research projects, exhibitions, conservation, storage techniques, etc. The Committee publishes bibliographies, newsletters and selected research projects. 

DEMHIST – Historic House Museums

DEMHIST is a forum for the conservation and management of historic house museums. Conferences address issues common to historic house museums in various parts of the world such as conservation, restoration, security and tourism as well as the artistic, architectural and cultural significance of these types of museums.

GLASS

The International Committee for Museums and Glass collections is open to curators and conservators of glass objects, vessels and windows, from antiquity to modern times. 

ICAMT – Museum planning and design

ICAMT activities relate to museum architecture, planning, construction and programming and exhibition production and design. It deals with issues ranging from the use of materials in exhibition construction to the philosophical aspects of interpretation. ICAMT publishes a newsletter entitled Brief twice a year and organises annual meetings and working groups.

ICDAD – Applied & Decorative Arts

ICDAD is devoted to collections of applied and decorative arts found in museums, houses, castles and historic monuments and organises regular visits to museums, galleries and design workshops. It is holding a joint session with Demhist, Glass and ICFA at the ICOM General Conference 2010.

ICEE – Exhibition Exchange

ICEE deals with different aspects of exhibition development, circulation and exchange. It provides the opportunity for networking and co-operation on joint and travelling exhibitions. A series of practical guides in arranging exhibitions are available to members.

ICFA – Fine Arts

ICFA focuses on museums and art galleries that collect old master and nineteenth century oil paintings and sculptures. It offers a network for professionals in various parts of the world to tackle various issues including the illicit traffic in artworks.

ICLM – Literary Museums

ICLM’s main interest is in literary, biographical and composers’ museums. This committee is responsible for launching 2011 IMD theme: ‘Museums & Memory’ in partnership with UNESCO Memory of the World Programme, with the aim of preserving the fragile collective memories of communities worldwide. 

ICMAH – Archaeology & History

ICMAH is dedicated to museums of archaeology and history. The committee considers archaeology as an essential aspect of historical research. It allows museum professionals in the fields of archaeology and history to communicate with one another and share advice and information. ICMAH publishes a newsletter, ICMAH Information, holds regular working groups and annual meetings.

ICME – Ethnography

ICME deals with ethnographic museums and collections at local, national and international level. It is concerned with the challenges facing ethnographic collections in a changing world. ICME has a newsletter and holds annual meetings.

ICMEMO – Memorial Museums

The International Committee of Memorial Museums in Remembrance of the Victims of Public Crimes was established in 2001. It serves as a network for museums commemorating victims of state, social and ideologically motivated crimes. It seeks to reflect on past events and their impact on the present while advocating peace & reconciliation for the future.

ICMS – Security

The objectives of ICMS are to provide education, training and guidance in museum security. ICMS has working groups on physical, technical and fire security, disaster management and training. ICMS presents a trade show in Washington D.C. in conjunction with the US National Conference on Museum Security.

ICOFOM – Museology

ICOFOM is the main forum for museological debate. Its focuses on the functions, activities and role of museums as repositories of collective memory in society. It explores a full range of museological issues and integrates them with other disciplines under the museum umbrella. All papers of the annual conferences are published in the ICOFOM Study Series.

ICOM-CC – Conservation

ICOM-CC is the largest International Committee with 1800 members consisting of conservators, scientists, curators and other professionals involved in the conservation of museum collections and sites. There are 21 working groups dealing with aspects such as preventive conservation, training, scientific research, artworks, glass, stone, leather, wood,  photographs, textiles, etc. 

ICOMAM – Arms and Military History

ICOMAM fosters the study of arms, fortifications, uniforms, flags, medals and military history in museums. It seeks to explore the development of armaments and its impact on politics and economics, society and art.

ICOMON – Money & Banking Museums

ICOMON was created for museums of numismatics and museums of financial institutions or companies. It offers members the chance to discuss issues of mutual interest at annual meetings.

ICR – Regional Museums

ICR explores the role of regional museums in their communities. It is particularly concerned with the effects of social and political change and globalisation and its impact history, culture and the environment. 

ICTOP – Training  & professional standards

ICTOP’s primary aim is to promote training and professional standards and the development of careers in the museum profession. The Committee publishes the International Directory of Museum Training as well as a newsletter twice a year and organises an annual meeting. 

INTERCOM – Management

INTERCOM works toward the development of sound museum ethics and management practices throughout the world. The Committee’s main concerns are the managerial aspects of policy formulation, legislation and resource management. It oversees the implementation of the ICOM’s Code of Ethics for Museums.

MPR – Marketing & Public Relations

MPR caters for museum professionals working in marketing, communications and fund-raising. MPR provides information to its members and holds annual meetings to develop communications and marketing in museums.

NATHIST – Natural History

NATHIST is concerned with the scientific study of the world’s natural heritage, the conservation of biological diversity in museum collections and the education of the wider public about the natural environment by using museum facilities. 

UMAC – University Museums & Collections

UMAC is a forum for all those working in academic museums, art galleries and collections (including herbaria and botanical gardens). It is concerned with the role of collections within higher education institutions and the communities they serve. UMAC is in close communication with its members and holds annual meetings.