National Committees

The National Committees are the principal instruments of communication between the ICOM Secretariat and its members. Within its country, the National Committee manages ICOM's interests, represents the interests of its members within ICOM and helps to implement ICOM's programs. A National Committee may be formed once at least five people from the same country have become ICOM members. The list of National Committees is published in ICOM News. ICOM has at present 115 active National Committees.

International Committees and Affiliated Organizations

ICOM has 29 International Committees, each devoted to the study of a particular type of museum or to a specific museum-related discipline. Composed of ICOM members who request membership, International Committees are exclusively professional bodies. Through its International Committees, ICOM achieves its major objectives: the exchange of scientific information at an international level, the development of professional standards, the adoption of rules and recommendations, and the realization of collaborative projects.
International Committees are represented by their respective presidents on the ICOM Advisory Committee.

Fifteen Specialist International Organizations are affiliated to ICOM. Their role is to bring together a particular type of museum or group of museums and/or museum professionals in a specific region.
Affiliated Organizations contribute to the development of ICOM's network of specialists.
Members of ICOM may ask to join an Affiliated Organization.
Although they remain self-governing bodies, these organizations participate in some of ICOM's activities and are represented by their respective presidents on the ICOM Advisory Committee.
Any International Organization whose membership is composed of at least two-thirds of museums or museum professionals may become an Affiliated Organization of ICOM.