A few notes on ICOM, Taiwan, and ICOM in Shanghai

ICOM (International Council of Museums) is quite like the UN in the way that it is more a political forum than an academic one.

ICOM is not quite like the UN, as its membership is not restricted to nations. Thank to this, Taiwan as a country gets some exposure there by joining the INTERCOM committee (International Committee on Management) and securing a seat on the committee since 2004/5. The Council for Cultural Affairs in Taiwan is the governmental body backing up Taiwan's seat on the committee and has made lots of efforts to promote Taiwan's museums and museum professions in that committee.


China is the second Asian country hosting ICOM conferences. South Korea did it in 2004 and, according to museum professionals there, the museum development in South Korea has progressed a great deal since its organization of the meeting in 2004.

China took ICOM conferences in Shanghai seriously. On the excursion day of ICOM, there were police cars leading tour buses and clearing the traffic. Being on one of the buses, I felt so privileged.