ICOM Voices Past: Museum & Youth, from Leningrad-Moscow 1977 to Dubai 2025
ICOM is a global organisation of museums and museum professionals dedicated to promoting and protecting cultural heritage. In 2025, youth remains a central focus, featured as one of the sub-themes of the ICOM General Conference in Dubai.
The Publications, Documentation and Archives Department of the ICOM Secretariat has published a special issue of Museum International titled “Youth, intangible heritage and new technologies in museums”. This theme is also explored in several articles of the ICOM Voices series.
As the ICOM network prepares to discuss the future of museums at the Dubai General Conference, it invites everyone to reflect on its past through an archival document. In 1977, during the General Conference held in Leningrad-Moscow (USSR), ICOM already focused on engaging young people in museum activities.
A working group from the Committee for Education and Cultural Action (CECA) presented a pilot project named “Travelling Box-Kit”. This project was developed by museums across several countries in partnership with children's parliaments. Both French and English versions of this document are preserved at the ICOM Secretariat.
Archived Document Title
ICOM 77. “Museums and cultural exchange: the role of museums in the mutual enrichment of cultures and understanding of nations”
Author’s summary: ICOM’s longstanding commitment to youth engagement highlights the evolving role of museums in cultural exchange and education worldwide.
Would you like me to include the original archival document text as well?