We are deeply saddened to inform about the death of Prof. Dr. Inga Karaia, President of the ICOM National Committee of Georgia, Doctor of Humanities, Head and Lecturer of the Museology MA programme of Tbilisi Art Academy, Professor at Caucasus University.

Inga Karaia was a high-ranking museum professional and an international scientist. Her merits in the field of museum and art are immeasurable:

• In 2003 she founded the Georgian Museums Association together with her colleagues;
• In 2004 she initiated the program of reform and development of Georgian museums, which she actively led until the last minute of her life;
• In 2007, together with her colleagues, founded the Georgian National Committee of ICOM and since its inception has been the initiator and implementer of many small and large-scale projects at the national, regional and international levels.
• Since 2010 she has been a member of the ICOM Advisory Board;
• In 2012, she founded and headed the Master’s program in Museum Studies at the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts, whose graduates now work in a number of museums and are actively involved in museum processes;
• At different times worked at the Ministry of Culture of Georgia, the National Gallery, the Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnography;
• At her initiative and authorship, local and international forums and conferences on the protection of cultural heritage and museum studies were regularly held in Georgia and the South Caucasus region.
• She is the author and editor of numerous methodological manuals in the field of museums, guides for museums in Georgia and Tbilisi;
• Is the author of numerous scientific papers, publications and books;
• On the basis of large-scale projects implemented by her, the process of popularization of Georgian museums and their integration into the world museum space began.
• And many other merits and contributions…

ICOM Georgia mourns the unpaid loss caused by Prof. Inga Karaia’s death to her family, friends, colleagues, students, the museum community and the arts.