ICOM Germany

ICOM Germany (ICOM Deutschland e.V.) is the German National Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), a non-profit association founded on 19 March 1953. It serves as the umbrella organisation for museums and museum professionals in Germany and is the largest of ICOM's 121 national committees, with more than 8,000 members according to its official website (Wikipedia cites over 6,500). Its mission is to represent the interests of museums and museum professionals in public life, working in dialogue with other cultural and museum organisations. Together with ICOM, it aims to protect cultural heritage held in museums and to place it at the service of society, guided by ICOM's globally recognised Code of Ethics for Museums. The association is headquartered in Berlin, where its Geschäftsstelle (office) acts as the central point of contact for members, institutions and museum associations, and as the interface between the ICOM General Secretariat in Paris and national and international ICOM committees. ICOM Germany is led by a seven-member board (Vorstand) elected by the general assembly for a three-year term, consisting of a president and six additional members. The board for the 2026–2028 term is headed by President Paul Spies. The office team handles membership services, event organisation, finances and communications. ICOM Germany organises annual conferences and specialist events, supports networking and knowledge management among its members, and publishes a range of professional literature. Notable publications include the German edition of the Ethische Richtlinien für Museen (Ethical Guidelines for Museums, with ICOM Austria and ICOM Switzerland), the Standards für Museen (Standards for Museums, with the Deutscher Museumsbund, 2006), and the Beiträge zur Museologie series. It also co-organises the International Bodensee Symposium. Through these activities, ICOM Germany shapes professional standards, ethics and continuing education in the German museum sector.

ICOM Germany was founded on 19 March 1953 as the German National Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM). It is a registered association (eingetragener Verein) based in Berlin. From its inception, it has served as the umbrella organisation for museums and museum professionals in Germany, representing their interests in public life in dialogue with other cultural and museum organisations. Over the decades, ICOM Germany grew to become the largest of ICOM's 121 national committees, with more than 8,000 members according to its official website (Wikipedia cites over 6,500). Its work, together with ICOM and UNESCO, focuses on protecting cultural heritage held in museums and placing it at the service of society. The ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums, developed by ICOM and globally recognised, forms the basis of professional museum work; ICOM Germany co-published the German edition of the Ethische Richtlinien für Museen with ICOM Austria and ICOM Switzerland. In February 2006, ICOM Germany and the Deutscher Museumsbund jointly published the Handreichung 'Standards für Museen' (Standards for Museums), providing orientation for qualified museum work in Germany's more than 6,300 museums. The association also publishes the 'Beiträge zur Museologie' series and the 'Mitteilungen von ICOM Deutschland' (since 1993), and co-organises the International Bodensee Symposium. The presidency has changed over time: Kurt Martin (1953–1965), Alfred Hentzen (1965–1968), Hermann Auer (1968–1992), Hans-Albert Treff (1993–1998), Hans-Martin Hinz (1999–2004), York Langenstein (2005–2009), Klaus Weschenfelder (2009–2013), Michael Henker (2014–2016), Beate Reifenscheid (2017–2022), and Felicia Sternfeld (from 1 January 2023). The board for the 2026–2028 term is led by President Paul Spies. The office in Berlin serves as the central point of contact for members and institutions and as the interface with the ICOM General Secretariat in Paris.

• ICOM Germany founded as the German National Committee of ICOM.

• Publication of 'Mitteilungen von ICOM Deutschland' begins.

• Co-publication of 'Ethische Richtlinien für Museen' with ICOM Austria and ICOM Switzerland.

• Co-publication of 'Standards für Museen' with the Deutscher Museumsbund.

• Felicia Sternfeld becomes President.

• Publication of 'Deep Listening' page for the 18th International Bodensee Symposium.

• Paul Spies becomes President for the 2026–2028 term.

The largest national committee of ICOM and the largest organisation for museums and museum professionals in Germany, dedicated to ethical standards, professional development and cultural heritage protection.

• Ethische Richtlinien für Museen

  German edition of the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums, co-published with ICOM Austria and ICOM Switzerland.

• Standards für Museen

  Guidelines for qualified museum work, published with the Deutscher Museumsbund in 2006.

• Beiträge zur Museologie

  Book series on museology, including conference proceedings.

• Mitteilungen von ICOM Deutschland

  Periodical published since 1993.

• Deep Listening

1. 1Deep Listening – ICOM Deutschlandicom-deutschland.de
2. 2Über uns – ICOM Deutschlandicom-deutschland.de
3. 3Vorstand – ICOM Deutschlandicom-deutschland.de
4. 4Geschäftsstelle – ICOM Deutschlandicom-deutschland.de
5. 5ICOM Germany – Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6ICOM Deutschland – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org