ICOM


The International Council of Museums (ICOM) is a non-governmental organisation linked to UNESCO committed "to the conservation, continuation and communication to society of the world's natural and cultural heritage, present and future, tangible and intangible".
ICOM provides a forum for the international museum community to engage debates and scientific exchanges. (http://icom.museum). In addition to its 113 national committees ICOM has 30 International Committees, each devoted to the study of a particular type of museum (museums of art, science, literature, historic houses) or to a specific museum-related discipline (conservation, education, documentation) etc.

DEMHIST


DEMHIST is an ICOM International Committee focusing upon the conservation and management of house museums. Its name is an abbreviation of the French term "demeures historiques". House Museums, range from castle to cottages, from all periods. The interpretation of house museums includes historic, architectural, cultural, artistic and social information. DEMHIST holds conferences and maintains a website to help provide a professional platform for sharing ideas and solutions. Its goals include the development of standards for conservation, restoration and security of house museums as well as helping develop communications with other professionals and visitors of house museums. Further concerns are the ways to improve community relations while increasing visibility and tourism.

 

OUR HISTORY


DEMHIST came into being in Palazzo Spinola in Genoa, in 1997. During the conference "Living History. Historic House Museums" for the first time the need was expressed of a specific ICOM committee devoted to this particular category of museums. The participants signed a petition which the ICOM-Italy president, Giovanni Pinna, submitted to the 1998 ICOM General Conference in Melobourne where it was accepted and ratified. A few days later the new committee held its first meeting and chose the name "Historic House Museums/Demeures historiques-musées/Residencias Histèricas-Museo" as well as the acronym DEMHIST (from the French version).
The Committee first gathered in July 1999 in St Petersburg where the first board was elected and the committee regulations were approved.

 

THE BOARD


The board is nominated for three years. The current members were elected in 2005, the Chair is Daniela Ball (Switzerland) (chair@demhist.icom.museum), the vice-chairs are Jeanne Watson (USA) and Maria de Jesus Monge (Portugal), the Secretary/Treasurer is Peter Keller (Austria) (secretarytreasurer@demhist.icom.museum). The other members are: Hetty Berens (Netherlands), Hartmut Dorgerloh (Germany), Cecilia Fernandez de Pallini (Colombia), Beatriz Quevedo (Guatemala) and Luc Vanackere (Belgium).

 

HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER


To become a voting member you need to join ICOM as an individual or institutional member. An application form with annual fee schedule can be downloaded from the ICOM website (www.icom.museum/nationals) or from your national ICOM representative.
ICOM members may apply for voting membership in DEMHIST without an additional fee. Membership forms should be sent to the ICOM Secretary at: ICOM Maison de l'UNESCO - 1, rue Miollis, F-75732 Paris cedex 15.
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