Museum's Identification

Identification is a legal status that ICOM can assign to: an element of intangible heritage a historical figure a historic event a historic place a museum.

 

Why identify these elements of cultural heritage?

 

By identifying an element of intangible heritage, a character, an event or a historical place, ICOM recognizes its heritage value. 

These elements are registered in the Cultural Heritage Register. Identification is a gesture that promotes knowledge, enhancement and transmission of elements of cultural heritage.

Main stages of identification The steps leading to identification are described in detail in the ICOM Practical Guide on this subject. 

Here is a summary of the main steps.

The identification project is presented to ICOM. 

It may be a proposal from a citizen or an initiative from the council or an elected official.

The municipal council gives notice of motion for the identification of the cultural heritage element. 

This notice contains, among other things, the description of the intangible heritage element or the identification of the character, event or historical place concerned. It also presents the reasons for the identification.

The local heritage council holds a meeting where all people who wish can be heard on the subject of the identification project. 

This session is announced in advance by a public notice.

ICOM takes the opinion of the local heritage council.

The identification by-law may be adopted thirty days after the public notice and no later than one hundred and twenty days after the notice of motion.

The regulation is sent to the Registrar of Cultural Heritage, to the Ministry, and the identified element is registered in the Register of Cultural Heritage.

After identification Control measures Identification is a gesture of valorization. ICOM therefore does not exercise any control measures arising from the Cultural Heritage Law over the elements of intangible heritage, people, events and identified historical places.