Component-I (A) – Personal details:
Museum—Meaning, Definition, Scope & Function
Prof. P. Bhaskar Reddy
Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati.
Shri Supreo Chanda
Dept.of Museology, University of Calcutta.
Dr Dhriti Ray
Dept. of Museology, University of Calcutta.
Prof. P. Bhaskar Reddy
Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati.
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Component-I (B) – Description of module:
Subject Name Indian Culture
Paper Name Museology
Module Name/Title Museum Architecture
Module Id IC / MUS / 01
Pre-requisites Knowledge of Museums, its components,
collections, functions and services
Objectives To understand about a museum, its definition,
about its various scopes and functions.
Keywords Museum, definition, scope, functions
E-text (Quadrant-I)
1. Introduction
Museum is a building in which objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural interest are
stored and exhibited. The word museum has classical origin and it has been taken from the
Greek word mouseion, means “seat of the Muses”—the nine Geek Gods and designated a
philosophical institution or a place of contemplation. Use of the Latin derivation of ‘mouseion’
is museum and it had been restricted in Roman times mainly to places of philosophical
discussion. Thus, the great Museum at Alexandria, founded by Ptolemy I Soter early in the
3rd century BCE, with its college of scholars and its library, was more a prototype university
than an institution to preserve and interpret material aspects of the heritage. The word
museum was revived in 15th-century Europe to describe the collection of Lorenzo de’ Medici
in Florence, but the term conveyed the concept of comprehensiveness rather than denoting
a building. By the 17th century museum was being used in Europe to describe collections of
curiosities. Ole Worm’s collection in Copenhagen was so called, and in England visitors to
John Tradescant’s collection in Lambeth (now a London borough) called the array there a
museum; the catalogue of this collection, published in 1656, was titled ‘Musaeum
Tradescantianum’. In 1675 the collection, having become the property of Elias Ashmole, was
transferred to the University of Oxford. A building was constructed to receive it, and this,
soon after being opened to the public in 1683, became known as the Ashmolean Museum.
Although there was some ambivalence in the use of museum in the legislation, drafted in
1753, after the foundation of the British Museum in 1753 the idea of museum became clear
to common people as an institution to preserve and display a collection.
Use of the word museum during the 19th and most of the 20th century denoted a building
housing cultural material to which the public had access. In Indian the concept museum
came during late 18th Century after the formation of the Asiaic Society in 1793. The society
took initiative to establish a museum with the available objects of different disciplines for the
oriental studies. In view of that in 1814 the first museum in India and south Asia was
established and now well known as Indian Museum. Later, as museums continued to
respond to the societies, the emphasis on the building it became less dominant. Open-air
museums, comprising a series of buildings or monuments preserved as objects, and
ecomuseums, involving the interpretation of all aspects of an outdoor environment are
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established. Now, virtual museums exist in electronic form on the Internet either having no
connection with its real existence or for bringing certain benefits to existing museums. In
later case, they remain dependent upon the collection, preservation, and interpretation of
material things by the real museum. A museum now, is an institution that conserves its
collection of artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance,
exhibits its collection of objects for public viewing that may be permanent or temporary.
2. Objectives
To know about the meaning of a museum
To know the latest definition of museum
To understand various scopes of museum
To know about various functions of museum
3. Definition of Museum
Many organisations across the world defined museum time to time, like by the American
Association of Museum, Museum Association in Great Britain etc. After the formation of
ICOM (International Council of Museums) in 1946, the organisation of museum professionals
across the world, they defined museum in its statues, Article 3, section 1, which is now
acceptable in all the countries. ICOM went through few amendments to modify and update
the definition of museum in accordance with the changing demands of the professionals.
The latest definition of museum by ICOM which is adopted in the 22nd General Assembly in
Vienna, Austria, held on August 24th, 2007, amended on the last definition which was
amended in 2001. According to this, museum is defined as:
‘A museum is a non-profit, permanent institution in the service of society and its
development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches,
communicates and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its
environment for the purposes of education, study and enjoyment’.
It was stated clearly in the definition of museum amended in the 18th General Assembly held
in Barcelona, Spain, 6 July 2001 that
‘The above definition of a museum shall be applied without any limitation arising from the
nature of the governing body, the territorial character, the functional structure or the
orientation of the collections of the institution concerned.
In addition to institutions designated as "museums" the following qualify as museums for the
purposes of this definition:
natural, archaeological and ethnographic monuments and sites and historical
monuments and sites of a museum nature that acquire, conserve and communicate
material evidence of people and their environment;
institutions holding collections of and displaying live specimens of plants and
animals, such as botanical and zoological gardens, aquaria and vivaria;
science centers and planetaria;
non-profit art exhibition galleries;
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nature reserves; conservation institutes and exhibition galleries permanently
maintained by libraries and archives centers; natural parks;
international or national or regional or local museum organisations, ministries or
departments or public agencies responsible for museums as per the definition given
under this article;
non-profit institutions or organisations undertaking conservation research, education,
training, documentation and other activities relating to museums and museology;
cultural centres and other entities that facilitate the preservation, continuation and
management of tangible or intangible heritage resources (living heritage and digital
creative activity);
such other institutions as the Executive Council, after seeking the advice of the
Advisory Committee, considers as having some or all of the characteristics of a
museum, or as supporting museums and professional museum personnel through
museological research, education or training.’
4. Scope of Museum
A Scope is a stand-alone planning document of a museum that succinctly defines the
purpose of its collection holdings at the present and for the future. It derives from the mission
of the respective museum, as well as laws and regulations mandating the preservation of
collections. A museum must have a Scope of Collection Statement. It guides a museum in
the acquisition and management of those objects that contribute directly to the museums’
mission, as well as those additional collections that the museum service is legally mandated
to preserve. It is the critical basis for managing museum collections. Scope is referenced in
museums’ management planning, resource planning, long-range interpretive plan, and other
planning documents that may affect the collection of museum objects or their use.
Basis of the determination of the scope of a museum
A. Aims, mission, vision and objectives of the museum
a) Legislation of the museum is formulated
b) Policies and strategies are developed
B. Collection and related information acquired
a) Documentation of objects in museum collection
b) Research
c) Designing Education Programme
d) Gallery Planning
e) Planning for temporary, travelling and mobile exhibition
f) Periodic maintenance of objects
g) Developing museum publication for the dissemination of information
C. Location, architecture and public space available if museum
a) Planning for community development programme
b) Planning for community participation programme
c) Activity planning during special day, vacation, holidays etc. for school children or
any target group
d) Inviting volunteers, interns, artists, experts
e) Participation in community programmes, fairs and festivals
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Necessity of the ‘Scope of Museum document
The Scope of Museum document is a valuable tool for Museum operation
It describes about the museum’s collection section wise
It helps to plan activities for the public, volunteers, and donors as well as to staff, field
management.
It is the road map which can guide to a museum in evaluating new acquisitions, in
budgeting, prioritizing resources, and overall planning and management of different
sections of collections.
Defining scope of collections can be especially useful in justifying donation refusals.
It can help museum to decide on selective acquisition which museum objects might
be appropriate for hands-on use, and which might be appropriate for de-
accessioning.
It also helps in financial planning including manpower, cost of curation, maintenance,
storage, security, inventory control, and energy costs to provide a stable environment
for collections.
It helps to maintain higher ethical standard followed by the appropriate legislations of
the country.
Who prepares and approves a Scope of Museum Statement?
The curator or other experienced museum staff responsible for the collection, education,
public relations, community engagement program etc. prepare the ‘Scope of Museum’ or
‘Scope of Collection’ Statement. The statement then reviewed by the experts like
archeologists, interpreters, scientists, naturalists, historians, archivists, and other resource
management staff. It is then approved by the concerned authority like director
general/director/Secretary/superintendents or governing body.
What is a Scope of Collections Statement?
A Scope of Collections Statement is a comprehensive collection plan which specifically
defines the types of objects a unit collects and why it does so. It describes what the
collection includes, what to add, what not to add, and what may need to be removed from
the collection.
Scope of Collection Statement
It includes the following sections:
Title Page
Table of Contents
Executive summary about the Museum
Brief summary of the collection
Declaration of the purpose of the section
Major interpretive themes, topics and/or time periods of the collection like cultural
groups represented, geographical boundaries, notable people, historic events etc.
History of the Collections
Collection contents summary
Use of collection
Relationship with other related museum nearby
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Collection development goals – recommended acquisitions, de-accessions and
transfers
Collections management goals—cataloging and documentation, conservation,
security, environmental conditions, storage
Additional planning documents used—General Plan(s), Exhibit plan(s) Furnishing
plan(s), Resource management plan(s) etc.
People consulted —includes current staff, former staff, volunteers,
consultants/experts etc.
Conclusion
5. Functions of Museum
Museum is the public service organisation and deals mainly with objects—its exhibition and
visitors. It has some responsibilities towards the objects and society and thus, performs
manifold activities on regular basis. Image and popularity of a museum depends upon its
public friendly approaches, entertainment, amusement facilities in addition to its contribution
towards research and education. Here are the lists below about the various functions of a
museum, which may vary from one museum to other according to the nature of collection.
5.1. Collection:
Most important function of a museum is to collect objects of heritage since it is a custodian of
the heritage of society or country. Every museum collects following its policies related to
collection management through various modes like, purchase, gift, loan, exchange,
exploration, excavation, Treasure Trove Act, gift, bequest etc. Each museum authority
adopts and publishes a written statement of its collection policy. Collection in museum, thus,
depends upon the mission, vision and objectives of the museum and also on the needs of
research, education, conservation, presentation of evidences of natural and cultural heritage.
A museum must not collect anything that is theft, smuggled or very much fragile.
5.2. Storage
Whatever a museum collects, need to store scientifically in a well planned and secured area.
It is an important function of all museums because only one-third of collection usually
displayed, rest two-third remains within the stores. So, museum must have a good storage of
its collection for the reserved collection separated for organic-inorganic objects, paintings,
textiles, sculptures etc. It should be regularly supervise to keep clean, control from humidity,
light effects, pest and other bio-chemical and natural hazards or disasters.
5.3. Preservation and Conservation
Objects need regular care because every object is subject to deterioration due to
spontaneous change in environment and subsequent physio-chemical factors. So, regular
care is required in both display and storage following the preventive conservation or curative
conservation wherever needed. Museum practices various preservation techniques, which
are exclusively objects specific to protect them from attacks of organism like fungus, insects,
rodents etc. and damage from humidity, temperature and light sources and intensities.
5.4. Documentation
Documentation is the process of preparing record of collected objects by formal entry in the
Entry Register, accessioning, cataloguing and indexing with photo-images. It is considered
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as one of the main administrative function of any museum. It is very important to document
objects with authentic information after necessary research and consultation. It facilitates in
knowing the provenance, identification, composition and necessary treatment of objects.
Now various software of international standard is available to document museum objects
digitally and to keep record not only for museum itself but as an online resource to know
about a country’s possession.
5.5. Research
Museum is the custodian of the evidences of country’s heritage. For keeping and
dissemination of information regarding each object, every museum needs to research on
those particular objects. It is also required to preserve and publish such information for the
use of museum itself while documentation and displaying objects, and also to serve research
scholars. Research scholars in the field of history or heritage need to consult various
museum objects and thus, museum needs to research to keep ready reference.
5.6. Exhibition
Museum is established for exhibition of objects too, apart from collection and preservation. It
is an important function of any museum and every museum exhibits objects by forming
permanent galleries or organising temporary exhibitions. Museums sometimes send their
objects on a mobile exhibition through its museo-bus to reach people at distant locations and
also send objects for exhibition at a museum situated in other cities or countries as travelling
exhibition.
5.7. Security
Museum collects and stores antique and precious objects or piece of art which are priceless.
So, strong security system needs to develop by museum against vandalism, fire, theft,
burglary and natural disaster. Sometimes two-three tiers of security system is followed in
museum both in galleries and stores using latest equipments, alarms, close circuit television
(CCTV) under the supervision of experienced security force and disaster management team.
5.8. Education and Knowledge dissemination
Museum at the time of its inception in 3rd BCE in Alexandria was a place for philosophic
discussion. Since then it remains the place for knowledge dissemination on the subjects it is
established for. Even in modern time people visit museum to see the wonders and get
knowledge on it. It supports people as an informal education center for disseminating
knowledge on art, history, science and technology through the material and non material
evidences. So, it is another important function of a museum to develop itself in such a way
that it can serve society through knowledge dissemination.
5.9. Publication
Museum publishes many popular literatures for visitors like leaflets, folders, posters, guide
books etc. Catalogues on specific museum collection, journals, art albums, monographs etc.
are published by museums, which are useful for scholars. Museum also publishes bulletins,
newsletters, annual reports etc. that highlights annual activities and administrative details
about the museum. It is the important activity of any museum and help visitors, scholars and
officials to know more about a museum.
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5.10. Public Services or Organising Activities
Museum apart from exhibition also organizes various activities for the service of society,
targeting specific group of visitors as its calendar events. Science centers and museums run
daily shows on relevant subjects that add knowledge to visitors on the various areas of
science and technologies in addition to the static exhibitions. This kind of show attracts lot of
visitors into the museum or centre for enjoyment and entertainment too. Like, Science City
and Birla Industrial and Technological Museum in Kolkata. It also encourage repeat visit of
visitors being a popular tourists destination. Apart from the science centers and museums,
museums on art and history are now also showing videos and documentaries in its audio-
visual rooms. Like, Kolkata Police Museum shows a documentary on the history of Kolkata
Police in its audio-visual room in every half-an hour during the museum days.
Museums also organizes several workshops, cultural programmes, activities like sit and
draw, quiz, model making, paintings and many innovative activities targeting schools
students, orphans, women or interested group etc. where they get entertainment and
knowledge and also get a chance to know more about heritage looking at the real evidences.
5.11. Outreach Activities or Community Service
Now, museums are more concerned about serving its community through its outreach
initiatives in many innovative ways and taking it as one of its priority of work. In this purposes
museums send their museo-bus to remote locations to show mobile exhibitions on a
particular theme to aware people either on a relevant subject or on the natural and cultural
heritage of the locality or country. Museums are also coming forward to assist women of self
help group and artist community in promoting the folk art and craft making to sustain the
indigenous art forms in this era of modern technologies. Museums are also coming out of its
in-house operation and visiting the fields, meeting artists, common folks of rural areas and
taking initiatives in preserving the intangible heritage like folklores, folk tales, folk dances,
folk songs etc. Bharat Lok Kala Mandal, Udaipur Rajasthan and Gurusaday Museum, in
Kolkata are the two museums which work on preserving the rural folk culture.
5.12. Lecture, Seminar, Workshops
Museums also organise lectures, seminars and workshops where they invite eminent
experts to share his/her opinion in the field of heritage and culture or on a specific subject
area concerned with the museum. These are the scholarly activities of a museum that helps
museum professional to enhance their work potential and the research and development of
the museum. It is also the initiative of museum where the experts and researchers shares
their findings to each other that foster the gross knowledge base within the research
community.
6. Conclusion
Now, museum means an organisation that stores objects of both natural and cultural
heritage, cares and provides necessary conservation supports required to objects in both
display and storage and exhibits objects for the knowledge of common people. Museum
professionals develop scope of work related to collection and service to the community and
functions accordingly to fulfill its mission and vision. It is now more a service provider rather
than a static display house.
