The 27th General Conference of ICOM (the International Council of Museums), held in Dubai from 11 to 17 November under the theme “The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Societies,” marked a historic milestone. For the first time in ICOM’s history, the General Conference took place in the MEASA region (Middle East, Africa, and South Asia), bringing together more than 4,500 museum and heritage professionals, researchers, cultural policymakers, and leaders from around the world.

The ICOM General Conference was held at the Dubai World Trade Centre under the high-level patronage of the United Arab Emirates.

Purpose and Significance of the Conference

The ICOM General Conference is held every three years and serves as the forum at which ICOM’s governing bodies are elected for a three-year term. Within the same framework, ICOM’s regional alliances and international committees also elect members of their governing boards for corresponding three-year mandates. The General Conference functions as a global platform where the international museum community presents current strategies, innovations, and professional standards.

In 2025, the Conference placed particular emphasis on:

• the rapid adaptation of museums to evolving societal needs;
• inclusivity, sustainability, and ethical governance;
• technological change and the responsible use of artificial intelligence;
• strengthening global mechanisms for the protection of cultural heritage.

Throughout the week-long programme, delegates participated in more than 100 panel sessions, workshops, and forums addressing how museums can develop innovative approaches and collaborate effectively with their communities in times of rapid change. Beyond the conference venue, thousands of participants took part in curated tours across all seven Emirates, gaining insight into the cultural heritage and museum landscape of the United Arab Emirates.

The General Conference and General Assembly concluded with the announcement of the election results: Antonio Rodríguez (USA) was elected as the new President of ICOM, a new Executive Board was elected, and the symbolic flag of the ICOM General Conference was handed over to Rotterdam, the host city of the 28th General Conference to be held in 2028 (see details below).

Participation and Achievements of ICOM Georgia at the 27th ICOM General Conference and General Assembly

On the global platform of ICOM Dubai 2025, ICOM Georgia was actively represented by a six-member national delegation: Lana Karaia (Chair of ICOM Georgia; Member of the ICOM Europe Board), Maka Kvaratskhelia (Member of the ICOM Georgia Board), Mariam Chkhaidze (Treasurer and Board Member of ICOM Georgia), Natia Khuluzauri (Board Member of ICOM COMMS), Nana Meparishvili (Chair of ICOM ICAMT), and Sophio Dughashvili (Member of ICOM ETHCOM).

Maka Kvaratskhelia, Mariam Chkhaidze, Lana Karaia, Nana Meparishvili, Natia Khuluzauri, Sophio Dughashvili.

The delegation participated in thematic sessions and working meetings, as well as in high-level international forums. The participation and achievements of the Georgian delegation were particularly noteworthy in the following areas:

Election of Georgian Representatives to ICOM’s Governing, Regional, and International Structures:

The General Conference proved to be successful for Georgia in terms of the election of national representatives to ICOM’s governing, regional, and international committee structures, contributing to the institutional development of Georgia’s museum sector and to the strengthening of the country’s role within international professional networks.

Nana Meparishvili was elected as a member of the ICOM Advisory Council and as Spokesperson for the International Committees for the 2025–2028 term.

Nana Meparishvili

Lana Karaia was elected Vice-President of the ICOM Europe Regional Alliance for the 2025–2028 term.

ICOM Europe Board 2025-2028

Sopio Dughashvili was elected as a member of the Board of the ICOM International Committee on Ethical Dilemmas (IC ETHICS) for the 2025–2028 term.

ICOM IC Ethics board 2025-2028

In previous years, Georgian representatives have held various elected positions within ICOM’s international committees and regional alliances. ICOM comprises 35 thematic international committees and 7 regional alliances, within which professionals from Georgia have served in leadership and governing roles, including Nana Meparishvili (Chair of ICOM ICAMT in 2019–2022 and 2022–2025; Secretary of the ICAMT Board in 2016–2019; Governing Board Member in 2013–2016), Natia Khuluzauri (Governing Board Member of ICOM COMMS in 2022–2025 and of ICOM ICMAH in 2016–2019), and Lana Karaia (Governing Board Member of the ICOM Europe Regional Alliance in 2022–2025).

Presentation of Challenges and Perspectives of Georgia’s Museum Sector in Thematic Conference Sessions:

Members of ICOM Georgia participated in various thematic sessions within the framework of the ICOM General Conference, where they presented the key challenges facing Georgia’s museum sector as well as its development priorities and perspectives.

Lana Karaia (Chair of ICOM Georgia; Member of the ICOM Europe Board; Member of the ICOM Advisory Council) chaired the session “New Museums” of the ICOM Europe International Symposium, held at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. The session was dedicated to the theme of “The Future of Museums” in the second quarter of the 21st century. It examined emerging trends in new museums across different countries, including the contemporary concept of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the eco-museum model in Mexico, the hybrid museum–theatre format of KOLK 17 in Germany, museums in Japan focused on sustainability and cultural tourism, and new institutions in Africa that integrate contemporary architecture with evolving cultural identities. These examples highlighted museums as innovative, inclusive, and community-oriented cultural spaces.

Lana Karaia at ICOM Europe International Symposium. Session "New Museums"

Within the framework of the International Committees sessions of the ICOM General Conference, a joint session of ICOM COMCOL and ICOM Georgia was held. During the session, Lana Karaia and Mariam Chkhaidze, Treasurer and Board Member of ICOM Georgia, presented the preliminary results of a joint research project carried out by ICOM Georgia and COMCOL (the ICOM International Committee for Collecting). The presentation focused on the analysis of existing museum documentation practices in Georgia and the identification of key needs for their further development.

ICOM COMCOL x ICOM Georgia session

Within the framework of ICOM Dubai 2025, the conference proceedings To the Museums, Citizens! Museums and Citizenship: Experiences, Concepts and Challenges were presented. The publication brings together case studies and critical reflections from the international museum conference held in Lisbon in April 2024, organised by the ICOM Executive Board, ICOM Europe and ICOM Portugal, marking the 50th anniversary of Portugal’s Carnation Revolution.

The volume explores the role of museums in fostering citizenship, democracy and human rights. It includes a contribution by Lana Karaia, “Navigating Civic Frontiers: Challenges and Insights from Georgian Museums”, which explores how museums in Georgia are evolving from traditional heritage institutions into active civic actors, highlighting key challenges and opportunities for strengthening their role in public dialogue, inclusivity and democratic values in line with ICOM and the Faro Convention.

Nana Meparishvili, who has served as Chair of ICAMT (the ICOM International Committee for Architecture and Museum Techniques) since 2019, led the scientific programme of the 51st ICAMT Conference and chaired the committee’s off-site session held at the Abu Dhabi Natural History Museum and the Louvre Abu Dhabi. She also moderated the first ICAMT session entitled “Architecture, Design, and Digital Technologies for Presenting Intangible Cultural Heritage” on 12 November 2025.

Nana Meparishvili chairing the ICAMT Session

Nana Meparishvili has held a range of elected roles within the governing board of an ICOM ICAMT international committee. She was the first Georgian professional elected to the ICAMT Governing Board, serving as a board member in 2013, as Secretary in 2016, and later as Chair in 2019 and 2022. During this period, the committee updated its statutes, initiated a process to revise its name, developed conference and workshop publications, and strengthened communication with its members. The number of ICAMT members increased during her tenure.

Since 2023, Nana Meparishvili has been a member of ICOM ICWG (the Group on the Future of International Committees). The group focuses on improving the functioning of international committees and provides recommendations to the ICOM Executive Board, Secretariat, and committees. Nana Meparishvili also contributed to the preparation of the group’s 2023–2025 report, which was presented at the General Conference.

ICOM ICWG

Natia Khuluzauri, who during the General Conference was a member of the Governing Board of ICOM COMMS (the ICOM International Committee for Marketing and Public Engagement), presented a paper at the first COMMS session entitled “Intangible Cultural Heritage, Storytelling, Identity, and Relevance.” Her presentation was titled “Echoes from the Mountains: Digital Storytelling and Intangible Heritage at the Alexander Kazbegi House Museum,” and she also served as moderator of the second session, “Youth Power, Collaboration, Activism, and Digital Skills” (12 November 2025).

Natia Khuluzauri presenting at ICOM COMMS session.

In addition, on 15 November, during an off-site session jointly organised by ICOM COMMS and ICOM AVICOM (the ICOM International Committee for Audiovisual, New Technologies and Social Media), held at Terra Expo City in Dubai, Natia Khuluzauri presented to the audience the proceedings of the international conference “Museum Communication at the Crossroads: Empowering Communities in Times of Change and Crisis,” which took place in Tbilisi on 4–7 December 2024 and was organised in cooperation between ICOM COMMS, ICOM Georgia, the Tbilisi Museums Union, and the Tbilisi Regional Centre of the European Academy.

Presentation of the ICOM COMMS 2024 Conference Proceedings.

In addition, during her term as a member of the ICOM COMMS Governing Board (2022–2025), Natia Khuluzauri was actively involved in the management and development of the committee. She was one of the main organisers of the ICOM COMMS international conference held in Tbilisi in 2024, contributed to the revision of the committee’s statutes, and participated in an ICOM-initiated working group focused on updating the names of international committees. Her proposal “COMMS” was selected, through a vote by the majority of committee members, as the new name of the ICOM Marketing and Public Relations Committee, replacing “MPR.”

ICOM COMMS board at the ICOM 27th General Conference. Dubai

Sophio Dughashvili presented a paper at the ICOM IC ETHICS (International Committee on Ethical Dilemmas) session entitled “Ethical Dilemmas in Museum Practice—Addressing Mediation, Gender Narratives, and Diversity in Museum Governance and Exhibition Practice.” Her presentation, “The Role of Mediation in Resolving Ethical Disputes Related to Museum Governance and Ensuring the Protection of Cultural Heritage,” examined mediation as an important tool in contemporary museum governance, cultural heritage protection, and various aspects of professional and public relations.

Sophio Dughashvili presenting at ICOM IC Ethics session. Dubai

Sophio Dughashvili is the first Chair of the Ethics Commission of the Georgian Mediators Association, as well as a mediator and legal professional.

Within the format of off-site sessions of the international committees, Lana Karaia and Maka Kvaratskhelia, a member of the ICOM Georgia Board, participated in a panel session of the UMAC Conference (ICOM’s International Committee for University Museums and Collections) held at the American University of Sharjah. The session addressed rapid changes in higher education in the context of the strategic value of university museums and collections.

UMAC Session. Sharjah American University.

Presentation of the Joint Research Project of ICOM Georgia and ICOM COMCOL at a Thematic Session

The Chair of ICOM Georgia, Lana Karaia, and Board Member Mariam Chkhaidze presented the interim results of the project “Enhancing Museum Documentation,” including findings from a study conducted in Georgia that identified the key challenges, needs, and development resources related to museum documentation practices.

ICOM COMCOL x ICOM Georgia session

The project is implemented within the framework of ICOM’s Solidarity in Times of Crisis 2025 grant programme and aims to:

• analyse the current state of museum documentation and collections management;
• support professional development in the field of museum documentation;
• develop ethical and crisis-oriented approaches to collections management;
• strengthen regional cooperation (Georgia–Azerbaijan).

Mariam Chkhaidze presenting the findings of the project.

Presentation of the Proceedings of the ICOM COMMS 2024 International Conference

Within the framework of ICOM Dubai 2025, the official presentation of the conference proceedings “Museum Communication at the Crossroads: Empowering Communities in Times of Change and Crisis” took place. The publication brings together papers from the international conference held in Tbilisi on 4–7 December 2024, organised in cooperation between ICOM COMMS, ICOM Georgia, the Tbilisi Museums Union, and the Tbilisi Regional Centre of the European Academy. The volume includes 20 articles by contributors from 13 countries.

During the presentation, the publication’s coordinator and Editor-in-Chief, Natia Khuluzauri, discussed the significance of the conference and the themes addressed in the publication. A limited number of printed copies were distributed to members of the COMMS Governing Board, while digital versions were made available through the ICOM Digital Library, as well as on the official websites of COMMS and ICOM Georgia.

Natia Khuluzauri presenting the conference proceedings 2024.

Strengthening Professional Networks and New Collaborations

The ICOM Georgia delegation strengthened cooperation with ICOM’s national and international committees, regional alliances, and partner organisations. A series of meetings were held, creating opportunities for the initiation of new projects, joint training activities, and collaborative research initiatives.

ICOM Georgia chair and board members at ICOM 27th General conference.

Participation in Global Discussions and the Definition of Strategic Priorities

Members of the delegation actively engaged in thematic panels and working meetings addressing:

• the use of artificial intelligence in museums;
• the revision of the Code of Ethics;
• innovative standards for security and collections protection;
• sustainable development and climate-related challenges;
• crisis preparedness in museums.

Throughout the conference, the Georgian delegation participated in discussions that contributed to defining ICOM’s global strategic priorities for the 2025–2028 period.

Networking Meetings and Future Plans

As a result of networking meetings, new professional partnerships were established, relations with ICOM’s regional committees were renewed, and key areas were identified in which ICOM Georgia will engage more actively in ICOM’s global initiatives and programmes in the future.

ICOM Dubai 2025 — Key Themes, Developments, and Achievements of the General Conference and General Assembly

Changes in ICOM Leadership — New Executive Board

At the 40th ICOM General Assembly, the ICOM membership elected a new Executive Board for the 2025–2028 term.

Antonio Rodríguez (USA) was elected as the new President of ICOM. A professional with extensive experience in organisational governance and committee structures, he previously served as Chair of the ICOM Advisory Council from 2022 to 2025. He succeeds Emma Nardi, who was elected President at the 2022 ICOM General Assembly in Prague.

The General Assembly also elected two Vice-Presidents: Nasir Al Darmaki (ICOM UAE), former Chair of ICOM UAE and Deputy Director of the ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah; and Tayebeh Golnaz Golsabahi (ICOM Iran), who was elected to the Executive Board for a third consecutive term.

The new ICOM Executive Board includes representatives from 16 countries, comprising the Treasurer, twelve ordinary members, and the leadership of the Advisory Council (Chair and Vice-Chair).

ICOM new president and executive board.

Strengthened International Action Against the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Heritage

In recent years, the increase in cases of looting and illicit trafficking of cultural property has raised serious concern within both the museum community and the wider public. These developments have once again clearly demonstrated the need for coordinated and effective international cooperation to ensure the protection of cultural heritage.

Within the framework of the General Conference, ICOM announced its intention to further develop the following areas:

• the introduction of new digital tools to enhance museum security;
• the strengthening of global partnerships (UNESCO, INTERPOL, UNIDROIT);
• the launch of a new joint operational initiative with INTERPOL aimed at supporting museums worldwide by strengthening security systems, reducing risks, and reinforcing coordinated efforts in order to significantly decrease incidents of theft and illicit trafficking of cultural property.

ICOM–UNESCO Global Initiative on Artificial Intelligence and Museums

During a special working dialogue with UNESCO, attended by Krista Pikkat, Director of Culture and Emergencies, Medea Ekner, the ICOM Director General engaged in a discussion on the role of artificial intelligence in museum and cultural heritage management. This collaboration between ICOM and UNESCO led to the joint announcement of a global initiative on artificial intelligence and museums—a programme reflecting both organisations’ commitment to the ethical, inclusive, and sustainable use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in the museum sector.

This initiative provides an important foundation for ensuring that artificial intelligence supports the development of the museum sector in a safe, equitable, and proactive manner. Its key components include:

• the creation of a global mapping of AI (artificial intelligence) projects in museums;
• the strengthening of ethical frameworks in alignment with UNESCO’s 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums, and UNESCO’s 2015 Recommendation concerning the Protection and Promotion of Museums and Collections;
• the development of professional capacities through dialogue, knowledge exchange, policy recommendations, and practical resources.

A New Phase in the Revision of the ICOM Code of Ethics

The ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums is the organization’s core guiding document and one of the principal reference frameworks for museum professionals worldwide. At ICOM’s 27th General Conference, the Ethics Working Group (ETHCOM) presented the latest stage of the Code’s revision process, reflecting shifts in professional values and responding to contemporary global challenges, including inclusivity, diversity, ethical responsibility, collective authorship, and accountability to society.

The revised Code serves as a renewed ethical foundation for the museum profession and reinforces ICOM’s commitment to responsibility, inclusivity, and public trust.

ICOM’s Digital Projects

One of ICOM’s key priorities is the development of digital projects. Within the framework of the General Conference, the Advisory Council session featured a presentation of the ICOM digital membership card project. The initiative aims to introduce a digital membership card alongside the launch of an ICOM mobile application, which will bring together all essential tools and information for members in a single platform.

In addition, the General Assembly was presented with the project for establishing the ICOM Academy, an online professional development and learning platform. The aim of the ICOM Academy is to promote inclusive, accessible, and high-quality professional development within the international museum and heritage sector. The launch of the Academy is planned for 2028.

International Museum Day

For International Museum Day, the ICOM Advisory Council announced the theme for 2026: “Museums Uniting a Divided World.”

International Museum Day, established in 1977 and celebrated by ICOM, aims to raise awareness of the fact that museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures, and the promotion of mutual understanding, cooperation, and peace among peoples.

Presentation of the First ICOM Award for Sustainable Development

At the General Conference, the winner of ICOM’s new initiative—the first award for sustainable development practices in museums—was announced. The award was granted to the Barbados Museum and Historical Society (BMHS) for its project “Shared Histories of the Islands: Scotland–the Caribbean.”

The project is based on transnational youth collaboration and offers creative responses to challenges shared by island communities, including the climate crisis, coastal erosion, risks faced by young people, and the loss of cultural heritage.

The project was recognized as a strong example of youth empowerment and sustainability-oriented museum practice, aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In addition to the winner, four finalists were selected: STAM Ghent City Museum (Belgium); the Museums Association of Namibia; the National Gallery of Victoria (Australia); and the Ars Aevi Museum of Contemporary Art (Sarajevo).

ICOM 2028 — Rotterdam, The Netherlands

The ICOM General Assembly selected Rotterdam (The Netherlands) as the host city of the 28th ICOM General Conference in 2028. The theme of the conference will be “Building Bridges — Connecting Worlds, Cultures, and Generations.”

The conference will focus on how museums can act as “bridge builders” between people, communities, and perspectives, particularly in the context of climate change, digital transformation, and social polarization.

The ICOM Strategic Plan for 2028–2034 will also be adopted in Rotterdam.

Adopted Resolutions — ICOM Strategic Priorities 2025–2028

The General Assembly adopted six resolutions defining the organization’s strategic priorities for the next three years:

• Empowering future generations by safeguarding the intangible heritage of museum collections and supporting professionals during times of crisis.
• Positioning museums within a fair, ethical, and sustainable digital future.
• Strengthening the role of museums in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through youth engagement, social inclusion, and climate action.
• Enhancing emergency preparedness in museums and supporting the resilience of museums and communities.
• Establishing a permanent committee on decolonization.

A Shared Commitment to the Future of Museums