The Barbados Museum & Historical Society (BMHS) has received the inaugural ICOM Award for Sustainable Development Practice in Museums for its project, “Shared Island Stories Between Scotland and the Caribbean: Transnational Youth Exchange.” The award was presented during the 27th ICOM General Conference in Dubai.
The initiative addresses a range of challenges faced by island communities, including climate change, coastal erosion, youth vulnerability, heritage decline, and economic instability. BMHS’s project was selected from 130 entries representing 60 countries. An international jury of seven experts evaluated submissions based on the five dimensions of the UN 2030 Agenda: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership.
ICOM President Emma Nardi stated: “As we face global challenges, from climate crisis to social inequality, museums must be part of the solution. The ICOM Award for Sustainable Development Practice in Museums celebrates institutions that have answered this call with creativity, courage, and concrete action. The winner, selected from an extraordinary field of 130 projects spanning 60 countries, proves that cultural institutions can drive meaningful change while fulfilling their core mission of preservation and education. It is through initiatives such as the ICOM Award that we incite museums to think differently about their role and their impact within society. It is just the beginning of a transformation that will reshape museums for generations to come.”
Other finalists recognized for their contributions include Ghent City Museum (STAM) in Belgium; Museums Association of Namibia; National Gallery of Victoria in Australia; and Ars Aevi Museum of Contemporary Art in Sarajevo.
Morien Rees, Chair of the ICOM Award for Sustainable Practises in Museums Jury said: “The inaugural ICOM Award received a large number of submissions from all corners of the globe, showcasing a diverse range of approaches to the 5 Ps (People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership) and 17 Sustainable Development Goals. This overwhelming response is a testament to the unwavering commitment of ICOM’s global membership to the UN Agenda 2030’s mission of ‘leave no-one behind’.
These submissions are a reminder too, of the significant impact individual museums can have, far beyond their own communities, as integral parts of ICOM’s global knowledge network. The diversity of approach can inspire fellow museum practitioners and institutions to make major contributions to addressing the most pressing issue of our time: the transition to a just, sustainable future for all.
Moreover, the submissions also demonstrate the many pathways in which museums can become agents of change. Rather than solely raising awareness of sustainability, they can develop and test sustainable practices, transforming themselves into workshops for a fairer and more democratic future. This is a powerful argument for integrating culture into sustainable development plans everywhere.”
Through this new award program at https://icom.museum/en/news/inaugural-icom-award-for-sustainable-development-practice-in-museums-announced/, ICOM seeks to create a global repository highlighting best practices so other museums worldwide may adopt similar strategies toward sustainability goals outlined by https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda.
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