The ICOM International Committee on Ethical Dilemmas (IC Ethics) is an open forum on practical challenges regarding ethical dilemmas in the museum profession. IC Ethics is a space where museum professionals can reflect, share and discuss ethical dilemmas, helping them to make more informed choices.
IC Ethics:
As dedicated museum professionals and ICOM members, we see the need for a broad and open debate about ethical dilemmas. With the new importance of museums as societal actors, ethical dilemmas are among the most relevant working fields. We believe that IC Ethics will be an essential and important addition to the International Committees of ICOM.
As an International Committee, it will be an open forum on ethical dilemmas for all museum professionals, a forum for reflection, discussion and sharing, thereby helping museum professionals to make more informed choices.
IC Ethics has been officially founded in Kyoto/Japan on Tuesday, 4th of September 2019, after being approved by the ICOMs Executive Board in July 2019. The initiators have received 171 Letters of Support from 38 different countries and four continents. In addition, five National Committees have supported the initiative with written statements.
Find out more about:
>>> Our mission (English, Français, Español) and rules (English)
LATEST NEWS:
Stand for Election to the IC Ethics Board (2025–2028)
Are you passionate about ethics in museums?
Join the leadership of the ICOM International Committee on Ethical Dilemmas (IC Ethics) and help shape ethical conversations and practices across the global museum community.
IC Ethics is one of ICOM’s 35 International Committees, serving as a space for professionals to reflect on real-world ethical dilemmas in museum work. The committee does not pass judgment but fosters open dialogue, the sharing of experiences, and the promotion of good ethical practices.
Click here for more info: Stand for election to the IC Ethics Board (2025–28)
ICEthics Meeting Room: Upcoming Session
“Making up the original: Use and misuse of AI in museums.”
🗣️ A case study by Lena Millinger
📅 16:00 – 18:30 23 June 2025
📌 Zoom Meeting – Link here
🆔 Meeting ID: 941 5446 8631
🔐 Passcode: 255141
A museum uses AI to improve blow-ups of Holocaust survivors. The external supplier adds lipstick, eyeliner, plucked eye brows etc. on the original photos, which are put up without museum staff reacting. Only when a visitor notices these strange faces in the exhibition months after the exhibition opening, and reacts to these atrocities, by sounding the alarm to media, does the museum decide to change the pictures! How to maintain dignity and authenticity in museum work if AI is left to rule?
ICEthics Call for Papers – 27th ICOM General Conference 2025, Dubai
ICEthics invites paper submissions for IC Day and Sessions A & B at ICOM Dubai 2025, exploring themes of women and youth empowerment, ethical museum practices, decolonization, and dress in nomadic cultures.
Deadline for all submissions: 22 June 2025.
In Memoriam: Per Rekdal
ICEthics is sorry to hear the loss of one our founding members of our international committee: Per Rekdal. He was a very devoted museum professional and played a major role in ICOM. Our sincere condolences go to all his family, friends and colleagues.
📞 Call for Speakers: Share Your Ethical Insights in Museums
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Are you a museum professional interested in or dealing with an ethical dilemma? Would you like to discuss this with your colleagues? We invite you to be a speaker or speakers of our virtual open platform dicussions!
You can find all information about the IC Ethics Meeting Room and what to consider as a speaker moderating in these documents:
(French and Spanish versions are coming soon!)
More information about the IC Ethics Meeting Room series, following and previous events as well as the recordings of the introductions >> on this page.
About IC Ethics
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As dedicated museum professionals and ICOM members, we see the need for a broad and open debate about ethical dilemmas. With the new importance of museums as societal actors, ethical dilemmas are among the most relevant working fields. We believe that IC Ethics will be an essential and important addition to the International Committees of ICOM.
As an International Committee, it will be an open forum on ethical dilemmas for all museum professionals, a forum for reflection, discussion and sharing, thereby helping museum professionals to make more informed choices.
IC Ethics has been officially founded in Kyoto/Japan on Tuesday, 4th of September 2019, after being approved by the ICOMs Executive Board in July 2019. The initiators have received 171 Letters of Support from 38 different countries and four continents. In addition, five National Committees have supported the initiative with written statements.
Find out more about:
>>> Our mission (English, Français, Español) and rules (English)