ICMAH is the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Archaeology and History. Among the international committees of ICOM, it is one of the largest, counting about 600 institutional and individual members from 67 countries.
ICMAH welcomes all those who work in, are interested in or manage museums with historical and archeological collections, anywhere in the world.
1. ICMAH values the professional experience of its members and encourages exchange as a contribution to understanding the past, shaping the present and planning the future.
2. ICMAH values archaeological and historical relics as expressions of human creativity and ways of life characteristic of different periods in time. Tangible and intangible transfer of such is thus part of the worlds cultural heritage.
3. ICMAH does not work in a vacuum. The committee always aspires to single out relevant themes and discussions from the present and to critically reflect upon these. In this, ICMAH endeavours to exhibit maximum flexibility when tackling pressing issues of society. ICMAH does not wish to leave politics out, but rather critically reflect them.
4. ICMAH encourages intercultural and interdisciplinary dialogue and conducts such dialogue openly. ICMAH is a place in which questions are developed and thought is encouraged, without ready-made answers entering into the discussion.
5. Through actively supporting and preparing international conferences as well as the targeted selecting of reflective reports and best practice examples, ICMAH encourages the development of innovative museum projects, which exemplify the social responsibility of the museum and encourage dialogue with the public.