Until February 28, 2024, ICOM Georgia is accepting new membership applications to join the International Council of Museums – ICOM. ICOM, a global organization uniting 50,000 members from 138 countries, plays a pivotal role in the museum community.

With over 50,000 members from 138 countries, ICOM stands as the world’s only global professional network for museum professionals and museums/institutions. For more information about ICOM, please visit the following link.

An ICOM member can become a representative of a museum or museum institution/field that aligns with ICOM’s mission and vision, demonstrating recognition and respect for the ICOM Code of Ethics.

Benefits of Membership:

• Professional Development: Access to opportunities for ongoing professional growth and development.
• Conference Participation: Attend and participate in ICOM conferences.
• Access to events organized by ICOM partner organizations.
• Educational Resources: Receive publications, manuals, and professional standards to stay informed and enhance expertise.
• Professional Training Programs: Engage in ICOM’s professional training programs to enhance skills and knowledge.
• Membership Card: Receive an official membership card, affirming your connection to the global network of museum professionals through ICOM.

IC​OM Membership Requirements:

• Professional Experience: Work in a museum or in an institution directly related to the museum field with a minimum of 2 years of work experience.
• Educational Involvement: Be a practicing museologist or lecturer actively engaged in teaching museology and/or cultural heritage protection programs with a minimum of 2 years of work experience.
• Ethical Commitment: Demonstrate a commitment to and adherence to the principles outlined in the ICOM Code of Museum Ethics.

Ineligibility for ICOM Membership:

• Commercial Activity: Individuals or institutions engaged in the buying and selling of cultural values are not eligible for ICOM membership.
• Mission Misalignment: Individuals or institutions whose activities are in conflict with ICOM’s mission and objectives are not eligible for membership.

Membership Categories:

• Individual Members: Open to museum employees.
  Available for working specialists and lecturers in the field of museums and cultural heritage.
• Student Members: Specifically designed for Masters and PhD students in museology or cultural heritage protection/management.
  Members in the student category do not possess voting rights in ICOM.

Institutional Members:

Open to a variety of institutions with a museum-related focus, aligning with the definition and profile of a museum.
Eligible entities include:

• Museums
• Natural, archaeological, and ethnographic monuments or reserves, historical monuments and reserves
• Institutions with botanical or zoological collections, an aquarium, or a vivarium
• Science centers and planetariums
• Restoration-conservation institutes
• Non-profit institutions or organizations engaged in museum-related activities such as conservation, education, training, and documentation
• Cultural centers and other institutions contributing to the management and development of tangible and intangible heritage.

Supporting Members:

• Available for both individual and institutional members with a significant interest in museums and the museum field.
  Supporting members contribute to the implementation of ICOM’s activities by paying a higher membership fee.
  This category is designed for those who wish to provide substantial support to further the goals and initiatives of ICOM.

Documentation Required for Individual and Student Membership Applications:

1. Motivation Letter: A letter from the applicant expressing their motivation for joining ICOM.
2. Official Certificate from Workplace (for Individual Members): A certificate from the workplace specifying the position and years of service, demonstrating a minimum of 2 years of work experience. (For students, an official confirmation of studies from the university.)
3. Identification Document: Copy of ID card or passport.
4. Recommendation Letter: Recommendation from an active member of ICOM. For students, a recommendation from their supervisor is required. The recommendation should articulate the relevance of the applicant’s membership and their potential contribution to achieving ICOM’s goals. Please note that one member can only provide two recommendations.
5. Online Membership Application Form (in English): Completion of the online membership application form.

Ensure all documentation is in order and submitted in accordance with the specified requirements for a smooth application process.

Documentation Required for Institutional Membership Applications:

1. Statement from the Georgian National Committee of AIP ICOM: A formal statement on behalf of the Georgian National Committee of AIP ICOM supporting the institutional membership application.
2. Official Registration Document: Official document confirming the registration of the museum/museum institution.
3. Mission, Tasks, and Activities Document: A brief document outlining the mission, tasks, and activities of the museum/museum institution. This should also include information about current events and projects.
4. Online Membership Application Form (in English): Completion of the online membership application form.

Ensure that all required documentation is provided to facilitate a smooth and efficient processing of the institutional membership application.

Submission of Full Membership Application Documents: Full membership application documents should be sent to the Committee’s email at icomgeo@gmail.com by February 28, 2024.

Important Notes: Only applicants who have submitted a complete application will be confirmed for review.
Review Process: The Council of ICOM Georgia will assess applications in two stages:

• Applications received up to and including January 31 will be considered on February 6.
• Applications received up to and including February 28 will be considered on March 6.

Please adhere to the specified timeline and submission requirements for a thorough review of your application.

Applicants will receive notification of the committee’s decision within 5 working days following the conclusion of the review process.