brief
The International Council of Museums (ICOM) General Conference is a triennial gathering of global museum professionals, offering a platform to address the most pressing issues facing the sector. In 2025 the ICOM General Conference will be hosted in Dubai, the first edition to be hosted in the MENA region. In preparation for the landmark edition, Alserkal Advisory was engaged to design the conference’s thematics under the general theme of The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities.
RESPONSE
Laying the groundwork for ICOM 2025
Leveraging our longstanding experience, Alserkal Advisory distilled thematics addressing the challenges and trends facing the global museum community. To spark engagement around the thematics, the Advisory conceptualised and delivered a one-day symposium tailored towards ICOM chairs and International Committee members. The intimate gathering served as a unique setting for leaders of the museum community to participate in focused discussions, setting the intellectual groundwork for the larger event to follow.
Curating a focused and impactful programme
The symposium featured 10 speakers across 6 sessions, each carefully curated to explore emerging challenges and opportunities within the museum sector. The programme balanced thought leadership with interactive engagement, ensuring that participants could contribute to shaping the direction of the General Conference’s discussions. By fostering early conversations among key stakeholders, the symposium allowed for a more strategic and inclusive approach to the 2025 conference.
Prioritising diversity and innovation
A key priority of the symposium was ensuring diverse regional representation, with a strong emphasis on voices from the Middle East, Asia, and Africa—regions often underrepresented in global museum dialogues. The event facilitated connections among international museum leaders and ensured that ICOM 2025 would be informed by a broad spectrum of perspectives and insights.
