Programme

Museums have always been preservers of culture and history. But how deep does the political dimension of their work reach? Under the title „How political is museum work?“, the 18th ICOM International Lake Constance Symposium will focus on two major topics: A look at the program and a look at the structures of museums.

On the first day of the conference, the focus will be on the outward-looking political dimension of museum work. How do museums participate in social debates? What role do they play in shaping socio-political opinion – and how does the opinion shape the institution?

Museums are microcosms in which political and ethical decisions are made on a daily basis. The second day is therefore dedicated to internal structures: How do political discourses influence the working methods of and in museums? How can museums improve their internal structures and thus influence the social image?

Examples of museum projects in the DACH region are intended to show how museums can live diversity as a matter of course within their teams and exhibitions and involve communities as active co-creators. The symposium is intended to promote self-reflection on the part of museums and highlight mechanisms for creating a culture of change and innovation.