Membership

Welcome to ICOM Philippines, the leading advocate for the conservation and promotion of our cultural and natural heritage. As the National Committee of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in the Philippines, we offer a vibrant community for museum professionals. By joining us, you gain access to a global network, exclusive resources, and professional development opportunities. Together, we work towards preserving our shared treasures and shaping the future of museums in the Philippines and beyond. Join ICOM Philippines today and be part of a dynamic community dedicated to safeguarding our world's heritage.

Join ICOM Philippines today and become an integral part of the movement to preserve and celebrate our rich cultural heritage. As the bridge between ICOM members and the General Secretariat, we ensure that the interests of ICOM are managed in the Philippines, contributing to the implementation of ICOM’s programs and Strategic Plan. Membership grants you access to a global network of museum professionals, exclusive resources, and opportunities for professional development. Together, we advocate for the value of museums and work towards their continued conservation and accessibility.

Membership Benefits

Become part of an international museum community, and will gain access to important benefits.

You'll get an ICOM Membership Card offering free or discounted entry to participating museums globally. It's a highly respected museum membership program globally. Before visiting, confirm if the museum accepts the ICOM Card.

Network

Connect and collaborate with experts from the global museum community to exchange professional insights and address challenges shaping museums and their evolution. Participate in meetings hosted by International Committees representing various museum types and disciplines within the field.

General Conference

Gain entry to ICOM's triennial General Conference, where you'll engage with colleagues worldwide and partake in comprehensive discussions on key professional matters.

Resources

Access valuable ICOM Resources including the UNESCO-ICOM Museum Information Center, subscription to ICOM News magazine, and availability of ICOM publications.

Eligibility for Membership

To qualify as an ICOM member, you must accept the following guidelines:

Accept and recognize the ICOM Statutes.
A museum professional or a person or an institution interested in the museum community's evolution.
Accept and respect the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums.

A person or an institution - including the staff - who sells cultural goods (objects, natural and scientific specimens) cannot become a member. To a wider extent, this restriction applies to any person or institution that carries out activities that might lead to a conflict of interest with ICOM’s activity.

Membership Categories

You can join ICOM Philippines as an Individual member or as an Institutional member.

Individual members are:

A person working full-time or part-time as a museum professional, as defined in Article 2, of the ICOM Statutes.
Students preparing for a career as a museum professional.
Retired museum professionals.

Institutional members are:

The following institutions, qualified as museums, are eligible to seek membership to ICOM:

Institutions designated as museums.
Natural, archaeological, and ethnographic monuments and sites and historical monuments and sites with museum-related activities including acquisition, conservation, and making material evidence of peoples and their environment.
Institutions hold collections and display live specimens of plants and animals, such as botanical and zoological gardens, aquaria, and vivaria.
Science centers and planetaria.
Non-profit art galleries as well as conservation institutes and exhibition galleries are maintained by libraries and archive centers.
Nature reserves.
National, regional, or local museum organizations as well as public agencies (ministries, departments, or organizations) responsible for museums.
Non-profit institutions or organizations undertaking research in areas of conservation, education, training, documentation, as well as other activities relating to museums and museology.
Cultural centers and other institutions that facilitate the preservation, perpetuation, and management of tangible and intangible heritage resources including living heritage and the creation of digital artifacts.

Application Process

Step 1

Submission of Application

Fill up the application form below and submit the application requirements based on the category.

For individual membership applications of museum professionals:

Please attach your Curriculum Vitae.

For individual membership applications of retired museum professionals:

Please attach a Curriculum Vitae and provide any attachment justifying your former status as a museum professional.

For individual membership applications of students:

A student applicant must be enrolled in a program of study leading to a postgraduate degree in museology, museum studies, museum education, museum management, conservation, or equivalent museum-related subject;

Please attach a Curriculum Vitae and one proof of enrollment (e.g. latest student ID, registration form, and others).

For institutional membership applications:

Please prepare the following requirements.

CV of the three representatives.
Letter of Intent
Brief background of the museum (Approx. 500 words)
Pictures of the museum or the institution

Please send the attachments to the official email addresses of ICOM Philippines philippines.icom@gmail.com AND dpabarca@aims.edu.ph.

Step 2

Membership Evaluation

The ICOM Philippines’ Membership Committee will review the application. Once approved, we will send a statement of account enumerating the payment details.

Step 3

Membership Approval

Upon the successful completion of your membership payment, the application will be endorsed to the ICOM Secretariat in Paris for final evaluation and membership approval.

Membership Form

Please complete and submit your application using this online form.

Click Here

Annual Membership Fee

Individual Membership Categories

Regular (Voting) - ₱ 2,500.00
Retired Professional (Voting) - ₱ 2,500.00
Student (Non-voting) - ₱ 1,500.00

Institutional Membership Categories

Category I - ₱ 15,000.00

(Less than ₱ 1,708,459.56 Operating Budget)

Category II - PHP 25,000.00

(₱ 1,708,459.56 - ₱ 5,694,865.20 Operating Budget)

Category III - PHP 30,000.00

(₱ 5,694,865.20 - ₱ 56,948,651.98 Operating Budget)

Category IV - PHP 50,000.00

(₱ 56,948,651.98 - ₱ 284,743,259.90 Operating Budget)

The category of membership is based on the annual operating budget of a museum.

Payment

The membership fee can be sent on the following:

A. BPI Family Bank Deposit

Bank Name & Branch: BPI Katipunan Ave
Account Name: International Council of Museums - Phils., Inc
Account number: 6861-0034-75

Kindly send proof of payment to

philippines.icom@gmail.com AND dpabarca@aims.edu.ph

for the issuance of the official receipt.

Just send an email to dpabarca@aims.edu.ph to request a billing statement.

How long does a membership application take?

A membership application takes approximately four to six months. This includes the evaluation and approval of the application.
What would happen if my application is rejected?

ICOM Philippines will return your payment and disclose the reason for the non-approval of the application. This can used to improve the chances of approval for next year.
Do I need to renew my membership annually?

Members are not obligated to renew membership annually. Instead, each member is free to renew based on their professional and personal need.