Definition, Aims and Scope of Museums

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1. Definition, Aims and
Scope of Museums
Dr. Virag Sontakke
Assistant Professor
Dept. of A.I.H.C. & Archaeology, BHU

2. Definition,
Aims and
Scope of Museums

3. Origin of Museum
•Theterm“museum”isderivedfromtheGreekword'museion’
•ItmeanstempleoftheMusesthegoddessesofartsandsciences.
•Themuseionor`musaion'whichwasfoundedbyPtolemyI(whodiedin283B.C.)inAlexandriawasacentreforlearningandscholarshiphousingrichcollection.
•Ithas400,000manuscriptsofbakedclaystoredinalargebuildingfunctioningasacentreofresearchandeducation.
•Latinderivationof‘mouseion’ismuseumandithadbeenrestrictedinRomantimesmainlytoplacesofphilosophicaldiscussion.
•Itwasdestroyedin7thcenturyCE

4. Historical overview
•Thewordmuseumwasrevivedin15thcenturyEurope
todescribethecollectionofLorenzode’Mediciin
Florence.
•In17thcenturymuseumwasbeingusedinEuropeto
describecollectionsofcuriosities.
•In1675thecollection,ofEliasAshmole,was
transferredtotheUniversityofOxford.
•Abuildingwasconstructedtoreceiveit,andthis,soon
afterbeingopenedtothepublicin1683,became
knownastheAshmoleanMuseum.
•ThefirstnationalmuseumintheworldwastheBritish
Museumwhichwascreatedin1753.

5. Historical overview
•Thewordmuseumduringthe19th-20thcentury
denotedabuildinghousingculturalmaterialtowhich
thepublichadaccess.
•Amuseumnow,isaninstitutionthatconservesits
collectionofartifactsandotherobjectsofartistic,
cultural,historical,orscientificimportance,exhibits
itscollectionofobjectsforpublicviewingthatmaybe
permanentortemporary.

6. UNESCO (14/11/1960):
AnyPermanentestablishmentadministered,in
thegeneralinterestforthepurposeofpreserving,
studying,enhancingbyvariousmeansandin
particularexhibitingtothepublicforits
delectationandinstruction,groupofobjectsand
specimenofculturalvalue,artistic,historical
scientificandtechnological,collections,botanical,
zoologicalgardensandaquarium.

7. ICOM: International Council of
Museums
•DefinitionofMuseumAccordingtotheICOM:
“Amuseumisanon-profit,permanent
institutionintheserviceofsocietyandits
development,opentothepublic,which
acquires,conserves,researches,communicates
andexhibitsthetangibleandintangible
heritageofhumanityanditsenvironmentfor
thepurposesofeducation,studyand
enjoyment”.

8. What is Museum?
•Museumisabuildingwherecollectionsofvaluable
andinterestingobjectsarekeptandshowntothe
public.
•ObjectsofArchaeological,historical,artistic,
scientific,orculturalinterestarestoredforfuture.
•Selectedobjectsareondisplay.

9. According to the (ICOM), there are more than 55,000
museums in 202 countries

10. Aims of Museum
1.Collectionofantiquitiesandartobjects
2.Preservationoftheantiquities
3.Displayandstoredtheobjects
4.Creationawarenessamongstthecitizens
5.Organizationacademicprogrammeforstudents
6.Publisheddifferentbooksabouttheantiquities,artsobjectsandtraditionalCulture
7.Installsenseofnationalprideinthepeople
8.TomakethenationalandinternationalmediumtopromotesenseofcultureoftheNation/State.
9.ToimprovethesenseofMuseumamongthestudentcommunity.
10.Generaterevenue

11. Objectives of Museum
•Acquireandsecuretheobjects
•Properdisplay
•Undertakingconservation
•Education
•Training
•Documentation
•CreateCulturalcentres
•Accessibilityofarchivescentres

12. Role of Museum
•Planning for community development programme
•Planning for community participation programme
•Activity planning during special day, vacation,
holidays etc. for school children or any target group
•Inviting volunteers, interns, artists, experts
•Participation in community programmes, fairs and
festivals

13. Functions of Museum
•Museumisthepublicserviceorganisation.
•Itdealsmainlywithobjects:itsexhibitionandvisitors.
•Ithassomeresponsibilitiestowardstheobjectsand
societyandthus,performsmayactivitiesonregular
basis.
•Imageandpopularityofamuseumdependsuponits
publicfriendlyapproaches,entertainment,amusement
facilitiesinadditiontoitscontributiontowards
researchandeducation.

14. Six pillars of museum
•Research and Dissemination
•Preservation and Conservation
•Interpretation and Presentation
•Education and Outreach
•Visitor Services and Amenities
•Administration and Management

15. Scope
•Holdthecollectionforthefuture.
•Conservationandpreservationofcollections.
•Documentation of objects in museum collection
•Research
•Designing Education Programme
•Gallery Planning
•Planning for temporary, travelling and mobile
exhibition
•Periodic maintenance of objects
•Developing museum publication for the
dissemination of information

16. Conclusion
•MuseumsareopenUniversity
•Museumsareveryimportantinstitutiondevoted
topreservationofculturalmaterial.
•Museumactingasabridgebetweenpastand
present.
•Museumservesasaneducationalinstitutionto
commonpeopleandresearchers.

17. Any Questions ?