ICOM Australia

03/06/2026

*Call for Papers: ICOM NATHIST 2026 Annual Conference*
November 9–11, 2026 | Adelaide, Australia
📌Theme: Collections for a Changing World

To explore how science, culture and diverse knowledge systems can work together to address global challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss and wider societal transformation.
Natural history collections — including preserved animals and plants, fossil material, geological evidence of change and even living collections — represent centuries of irreplaceable biodiversity documentation. As the world faces accelerating climate change, biodiversity loss, and diverse ecological pressures, these collections are emerging as critical research infrastructure that can inform decision making. Sharing the outcomes from research across our globally diverse cultures and knowledge systems can better inform the role natural history collections play. Adapting to climate fluctuations, social and political change and the ongoing challenge of protecting our collections under a range of financial and physical disruptions at a time, their value and uses are increasing. Please share your research and practice-based insights on how collections can be mobilised, interpreted, and expanded to meet present and future challenges.

📝Submission Themes
Please nominate your 1st and 2nd preferences among the following options:
1) Exploring what is a natural history collection: 2026 and beyond.
2) Disaster preparedness – thinking about the unthinkable.
3) Urban greening and biodiversity protection.
4) Sustainability and collections conservation in a changing world.
5) Exemplars of global collaboration in natural history collections use.
5) The importance of living collections as natural history collections.
7) Collection data and its central role in monitoring environmental change.
8 ) General theme.

🔍Submission Guidelines
1) Language: English.
2) Formats: Oral Presentation (15 min) or Lightning Talk (5 min).
3) Limits: Title ( 50 words), Abstract (250 words), Keywords (2–5).
4) Methods: Please refer to the online registration portal (to be online by mid June).
5) Author information: Presenting Author, Co-Authors and Affiliations are to be entered online through the portal the conference organiser provides. Each author will have the option to submit a 50-word work biographical note.

Important Dates (2026)⚠
▪Call for Abstracts Opens: May 31st.
▪Submissions Close: First round- June 30th; Second round July 15th.
▪Notification of Acceptance: July 31st.

For any questions, please refer to the official website (to be online by mid June); before mid June, please email ICOM NATHIST Secretary at [email protected]


ICOM Australia South Australian Museum Adelaide Botanic Garden International Council of Museums - ICOM

25/05/2026

ICOM Australia has made a submission on behalf of its members to the Australian Government in response to the public consultation paper - Towards a new National Cultural Policy. You can read and download the submission via this link: https://icom-australia.mini.icom.museum/policies-and-submissions/

30/04/2026

Exciting news for ICOM Australia members with the ICOMNathist conference to be held in Adelaide in November. And a timely reminder to make sure your individual and institutional memberships are up to date! Renew today so you don't miss out!

Save the Date | ICOM-NATHIST International conference and annual general meeting 2026

We are pleased to inform you that the ICOM committee for Natural History (NATHIST) will hold their annual general meeting and conference in Adelaide, Australia from 9th to 11th November, 2026.

This conference will bring together museum professionals, scientists and colleagues from all over the world. The conference will be held at the South Australian Museum and State Botanical gardens.

The key themes of the conference include:

· Sustainability and collections conservation in a changing world
· Exploring what is a natural history collection: 2026 and beyond
· Emerging issues for the natural history collections sector
· Urban greening and biodiversity

Full details including theme, registration, accommodation information, call for papers, travel grants, and the complete program will be announced in the coming weeks.

For now, mark your calendars and begin planning your journey to Adelaide, Australia. We look forward to welcoming the global NATHIST community in November 2026.

23/04/2026

If your institution is a member of ICOM Australia, all institutional staff can access and use the institution's ICOM cards when they visit museums and galleries across Australia and the world. But did you know that your Board Members can use them too?

Well now you do!😎

Check to see if your institution's membership is up to date, grab that card and get out there and visit some museums and galleries!

13/04/2026

ICOM Australia expresses its serious concern over the recent conflict in Iran, the Gulf Region and the Eastern Mediterranean, its humanitarian impact, as well as the risks facing museums and cultural heritage sites. We are alarmed by reports of serious damage to cultural sites in the region, confirmed by intergovernmental organisations such as UNESCO.

ICOM is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with its National Committees and partners in the region and internationally, in line with its core commitment to the protection of cultural heritage. We remain attentive to the safety and well-being of our members in the affected areas as well as all professionals working to safeguard cultural heritage. ICOM underlines the need to respect international humanitarian law and to ensure the protection of civilians.

ICOM supports statements already published by partner organisations and refers members to the ICOM Statement for Peace, and the Declaration on the protection of archives, libraries, museums and heritage places during armed conflicts and political instability on the ICOM website: https://icom.museum/en/

23/03/2026

Calling all ICOM Young professionals! We want to hear from you.

To help make further progress with the international ICOM Young Professionals network, the committee has developed a short survey (taking less than 10 minutes) to gather your input on the mission, vision and structure of this network.

Your feedback is essential ahead of our next meeting, where the results will serve as a strong basis for discussion. Our objective is to use these insights to draft a statement for the ICOM General Secretariat and a good basis for working with our colleagues from the Netherlands to determine our role for the conference in Rotterdam.

You can vote for the next meeting date here: https://doodle.com/meeting/organize/id/bkjM4j5a.
(Please vote by Monday 31 March)

24/02/2026

Get involved! 👇

Standing Committees and Working Groups are vital to the work and mission of ICOM. They play a crucial role in supporting ICOM’s governance and advancing professional standards across the global museum community. Membership offers a unique opportunity to contribute your expertise, collaborate with peers, and help shape ICOM’s policies and initiatives.

All eligible members are encouraged to apply and actively participate in shaping the future of ICOM’s governance and professional standards. 🖼️ 🦕

09/02/2026

Did you know that if your role is to provide goods and services to the Museum sector, you could be eligible for membership of International Council of Museums - ICOM?

Whether you make crates, conserve artworks, provide storage solutions and transport or install exhibitions you (or your company) could become an ICOM member today and take advantage of a world of benefits including free entry to museums, professional development, publications and special events.

Click here to learn more and apply: https://icom-australia.mini.icom.museum/become-a-member-application-form/

04/02/2026

21/01/2026

Second Edition of The International House Museums Days.
The initiative is scheduled for 18 and 19 April 2026.
Registration for institutions wishing to participate opens on January 19.

Florence, 12 January 2026 – Registrations are about to open for the international event that connects historic house museums and the homes of illustrious figures from around the world.
After last year’s great success, with 401 participating house museums and 83,000 visitors, the International Days of House Museums dedicated to memorial houses and great historical figures returns. Taking place on 18 and 19 April 2026, for the second consecutive year, house museums from all over the world will simultaneously open their doors to the public.
Following the established format, the event is open to all historic house museums: register your house museum from 19 January until 20 March by completing the dedicated form:

https://bit.ly/IHMDays26

International House Museums Days is organized by Associazione Nazionale Case della Memoria (the National Association of Memorial Houses), which connects 120 Italian house museums, with the support and collaboration of ICOM DEMHIST (International Committee for Historic House Museums), ICOM ICLCM (International Committee for Literary and Composers’ Museums), ICOM Italy, and the European Network of House Museums of Illustrious Figures.
During the two days, all continents will come together in the name of culture and memory to explore small homes or monumental villas, artists’ studios and fully-fledged museums, permanent
residences, summer “retreats,” and collectors’ houses—places where historic figures from every field of knowledge, art, literature, science, and governance were born or lived.
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