The International Council of Museums (ICOM) is a membership-based international professional network that brings together over 60,000 members from 139 countries worldwide.
Detailed information about ICOM is available via the link.
ICOM Membership Criteria and Benefits:
Who can become a member?
ICOM membership is open to museum professionals and representatives of the museum sector who share the organization’s mission and vision and who respect and comply with the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums.
Membership Benefits
Professional development - ICOM provides trainings, seminars, and other capacity building activities that support members’ skills enhancement and professional growth.
Participation in ICOM conferences - Members have the opportunity to participate in ICOM’s international, regional, and local conferences, fostering knowledge sharing, professional networking, and access to innovations in the field.
Access to partner organizations’ events - Members receive preferential access to conferences, trainings, and forums organized by ICOM partner institutions, expanding professional horizons.
Publications, guidelines, and professional standards - ICOM members benefit from professional resources prepared by the organization, including guidelines, research, and standards supporting the development of the museum sector.
ICOM professional training and capacity-building programmes - Members can join specialized programmes aimed at deepening knowledge in areas such as museum management, 21st-century museum challenges, heritage protection, crisis management, and more.
Membership card - The ICOM membership card provides free admission or discounts to museums, scientific centers, and relevant museum/heritage institutions worldwide.
Eligibility Requirements for ICOM Membership
Professional experience in a museum or a museum-related institution
Applicants must have at least two (2) years of work experience in a museum or in an institution directly related to the museum field.
Active specialist or lecturer in the museum sector
An active museum professional or lecturer teaching museum studies and/or cultural heritage protection programmes, with at least two (2) years of experience.
Compliance with the ICOM Code of Ethics
Applicants must acknowledge and comply with the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums, which defines professional and ethical standards for museums.
Ineligible Applicants
ICOM membership is not allowed to:
- Individuals or institutions involved in the buying and selling of cultural property
- Individuals or institutions whose activities conflict with ICOM’s mission and objectives
Membership Categories
Individual Members - Museum staff; active professionals and lecturers working in the museum and cultural heritage fields.
Student Members - Master’s or PhD students enrolled in museum studies or cultural heritage protection/management programmes.
Note: Student members do not have voting rights within ICOM.
Institutional Members - Organizations consistent with the definition of a museum, including:
Museums
Natural, archaeological, and ethnographic monuments or reserves
Historical monuments and reserves
Institutions with botanical or zoological collections, aquariums, or vivariums
Science centers and planetariums
Restoration and conservation institutions
Non-profit organizations engaged in museum research, conservation, education, training, or museum documentation
Cultural centers and other organizations supporting the management and development of tangible and intangible heritage
Supporting Members - Individual or institutional members with a particular interest in supporting museums and the museum sector. Supporting members contribute to ICOM activities by paying a higher membership fee.
Application Documentation
For Individual and Student Membership
Applicants must submit:
Motivation letter signed by the applicant
Proof of employment (or university certificate for students), indicating the exact start date (year/month)
Copy of ID card or passport
Recommendation from an existing ICOM member (for students: recommendation from the academic supervisor)
Please note: The recommendation letter (1–2 pages) must clearly justify the applicant’s eligibility according to ICOM membership criteria and explain their specific future contribution to the organization’s goals.
Note: One ICOM member may provide recommendations for a maximum of two applicants. Recommendation has to be signed by the author
For Institutional Membership
Organizations must submit:
- Official application letter addressed to the ICOM Georgia National Committee (LEPL)
- Official registration document of the organization
- Document describing the organization’s mission, objectives, and activities over the last two years, including current activities
- Completed online application form (in English)
Submission Deadline
The complete application package must be sent to: icomgeo@gmail.com
Submission deadline: 28 February 2026
Note: Only applicants who submit a complete application package will receive confirmation of receipt and review.
Review Process
Applications will be reviewed by the ICOM Georgia Board after the membership application period has ended.
Results will be communicated to applicants via the email address provided in the application.
For additional questions, please contact: icomgeo@gmail.com.
