Global Survey: Continuing The Conversation

As part of its ongoing commitment to improving governance and operations, ICOM is advancing a comprehensive membership consultation process on its governance, structure, and operations.

This initiative, led by the Working Group on Statutes and Rules (WGSR) under the supervision of the ICOM Executive Board and supported by the external consultancy Boiling Ideas, builds on the revision of the ICOM Statutes adopted by the Extraordinary General Assembly on 9 June 2023. This revision marked the first phase of a broader effort to modernise ICOM's governance framework and organisational structure.

Following this milestone, the WGSR was mandated by the ICOM Executive Board in 2024 to conduct a Global Survey, designed as a three-step consultation process to inform potential future revisions of ICOM's core governing texts, including the Statutes and Internal Rules.

The first phase of this consultation, Survey 1 on ICOM's governance and structure, was developed through an inclusive methodology. In February - March 2025, an open call for interviews allowed members from diverse regions and professional backgrounds to contribute to the refinement of the questionnaire, ensuring clarity, relevance, and inclusivity.

Survey 1was then open from 30 April to 14 August 2025, inviting National and International Committees, Regional Alliances, and Affiliated Organisations to provide consolidated feedback on governance practices, participation, and future expectations.

Throughout this process, the WGSR held fifteen working sessions between May 2024 and October 2025, in close collaboration with Boiling Ideasand with regular reporting to the ICOM Executive Board.

To ensure transparency and continuous access to information, a dedicated folderon the Global Surveyhas been available in your ICOM Member Spacesince March 2025. It brings together all relevant documentation, including recordings of the preparatory webinars held on 27 February 2025, as well as presentations on the Global Surveydelivered to the membership.

The Global Survey was presented to the ICOM Membership at key institutional moments, notably during the 98th Session of the Advisory Council(June 2025).

The preliminary findings of Survey 1 were subsequently shared during the 27th ICOM General Conference in Dubai (November 2025), including at the Separate Meetings of National and International Committees, and the 99th Session of the Advisory Council (November 2025). On that occasion, The Final Report on Survey 1was also provided to the Membership as a working document for the 99th Session of the Advisory Councilin November 2025.

These presentations marked an important mid-point in the consultation process, providing members with initial insights and opening discussions on potential future reforms of ICOM's governance framework.

ICOM now invites all its members to an exclusive webinar dedicated to the Global Survey and ongoing reflections on its governance and structure.

This event will (i) present key insights from Survey 1, (ii) outline the methodology and timeline for the next phases of the Global Survey(including upcoming surveys), and (iii) explain how members can continue to contribute to shaping ICOM's future governance, notably throughSurvey 2.

Webinar details

• Date: Thursday 21 April 2026
• Time (CET): 1:00 pm (in English) / 2:30 pm (in French) / 5:30 pm (in Spanish)
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Format: Webinar (Zoom)
• Hosts: co-Chairs and members of the WGSR

All ICOM members from all regions, backgrounds, and professional roles can attend the webinar. Whether you are new to the organisation or a long-standing member, your perspective is valuable.

The webinar will be available in ICOM's three statutory languages: English, French, and Spanish. Each session will be held separately to ensure accessibility and engagement for all members from different regions.

This webinar is a key opportunity to better understand the findings of the first phase of the Global Survey (Survey 1), learn about the next steps, including the potential launch of additional surveys, and engage in the ongoing process that may lead to important evolutions of ICOM's governance, structure, and regulatory framework.

The consultation will ultimately guide the membership in assessing possible reform scenarios, ranging from broader revisions to the Statutes to targeted updates to the Internal Rules.

To attend the session in your preferred language, please register using the appropriate link below:

• English Session- 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm (CET): Register here
• French Session- 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm (CET): Inscrivez-vous ici
• Spanish Session- 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm (CET): Regístrese aquí

We encourage all ICOM members to join and contribute to this important collective reflection.

Let's prepare for change together!