STATUTES
Slovak Committee of ICOM

Article I
Name and Seat

Name:
Slovak Committee of ICOM
ICOM is the International Council of Museums – a non-governmental non-profit organization of museums and museum professionals at UNESCO. The Slovak Committee of ICOM is its member. The Slovak Committee of ICOM (hereinafter referred to as “SK ICOM”) is an organization with an international element.

Seat:
Slovak National Gallery
Riečna 1
815 13 Bratislava

Article II
Goals

SK ICOM, as one of the national committees of ICOM – an international institution of museums and museum professionals, whose mission is to protect the cultural and natural heritage of humanity, both movable and immovable, and to communicate its values to the public, aims to:

  • represent the interests of Slovak museums, galleries, and other collecting institutions, as well as museum professionals
  • determine professional and ethical standards for the activities of museums, galleries, and collecting institutions in accordance with the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums, issue recommendations; promote education, specialized knowledge, and support the growth of cultural awareness through cooperation programs
  • promote the establishment, development, and professional management of museums, galleries; organize mutual cooperation and assistance between museums and among their staff
  • facilitate cooperation, mutual assistance, and exchange of information among the members of the organization
  • support the expansion of the ICOM membership base from among museum and gallery professionals in Slovakia
  • represent the interests of members before the ICOM General Secretariat, as well as before other professional organizations, museum founders, and other institutions
  • organize ICOM activities in Slovakia
  • cooperate with international ICOM committees and with national and international organizations working in the field of museums or uniting their professionals

Article III
Definition of Terms Used

III.1  ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums

The ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums defines the ethical standards of museums taking into account principles that are generally recognized in the international museum community. Membership in ICOM and the payment of the annual contribution confirm the acceptance of the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums. SK ICOM published the Slovak translation of the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums in 2009, which is available on the website

III.2  Museum

In the activities of ICOM, a museum is understood as an institution with a long-term operation, without a primary profit orientation, whose function is to serve and be open to the public. It deals with the acquisition, protection, research, and presentation of objects of cultural and natural heritage of humanity and its environment. Thus, a museum is understood not only as a museum but also galleries, public and publicly accessible collections, libraries, archives, and scientific, educational, and documentation workplaces, whose mission is in accordance with the described activities and functions of “collecting institutions”. In ICOM terminology, these institutions correspond to the formulation of “institutions of a similar nature as a museum, which ICOM has recognized as such”.

III.3  Museum Professionals

Employees of museums who have completed a specialized type of study or have corresponding practice related to the management, operation, and activities of museums. Independent individuals respecting the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums, working with museums and for museums, may also belong here; however, their activities cannot involve the promotion or trade of commercial products, whether from the field of cultural and natural heritage or from the field of museum equipment and their functioning.

Article IV
Membership

Membership is open to museums, galleries, institutions of a similar nature recognized as such by ICOM (hereinafter referred to as “museums”), museum professionals, and students specified in point IV.1.C
No organization (including its employees) or individual who promotes, sells, and buys cultural and natural heritage, art, scientific objects, and natural species for profit may become a member of SK ICOM.

IV.1  Membership Categories

A. Institutional:
Museums that have their seat in the territory of the Slovak Republic.

B. Individual: Regular:
Museum professionals working in the Slovak Republic.
Senior:
Museum professionals who have ceased to perform their work and have retired from museums.

C. Student:
Students of master’s and postgraduate studies in fields related to museum activities.

D. Extraordinary Membership:
Individuals or institutions from the Slovak Republic that support SK ICOM with their activities and/or financially from their interest in museums and international cooperation of museums and contribute significantly to SK ICOM annually with an amount higher than the annual membership fee.

IV.2  Establishment of Membership

Membership is established by the acceptance of a completed application by the SK ICOM Board, its recommendation to the ICOM General Secretariat in Paris, and the payment of the annual membership fee.
In case of non-acceptance and non-recommendation of the application to the General Secretariat, the SK ICOM Board is obliged to inform the applicant.
A new member will receive, through SK ICOM, a new membership card from the ICOM General Secretariat in Paris to confirm their membership.
The SK ICOM Board evaluates applications received by the end of August of the given year in that year.

IV.3  Renewal of Membership

Membership is renewed every year by the payment of the annual membership fee from December 1 to March 30. To confirm their membership in the given year, a member will receive, after the payment of the annual membership fee, a stamp with the current year on their card.
A member who does not renew their membership by March 30 of the relevant calendar year loses the rights pertaining to their membership category. If they do not do so by November 30 of the relevant calendar year, their membership ceases. It can only be renewed in the following year by submitting a new application.

IV.4  Annual Membership Fees

The amount of annual membership fees for the calendar year for individual membership categories is approved by the plenary assembly (general assembly) of ICOM. The SK ICOM Board has the right to add a maximum of 20% to the annual membership fee, which will remain the property of SK ICOM. The SK ICOM Board will transfer the annual fees to the ICOM General Secretariat within the specified deadline from its account.

IV.5  Termination of Membership

a)       by not paying the annual membership fee by the deadline specified in Article IV.3
b)      by changing the professional status of the member
c)       by the death of the member
d)      by written exclusion of the member by the SK ICOM Board for violation of obligations defined in point V.6 of these Statutes

Article V
Rights and Obligations of SK ICOM Members

V.1  Rights of All SK ICOM Members

a)       to participate in the activities of SK ICOM and ICOM in accordance with the established conditions
b)      to cooperate in the activities of SK ICOM carried out by the SK ICOM Board
c)       to propose candidates for election to the SK ICOM Board
d)      to use the membership card when entering museums and galleries accepting ICOM cards

V.2  Rights of Holders of Individual Membership (Regular and Senior):

a)       to participate in the SK ICOM Assembly with voting rights
b)      to vote and be elected to the SK ICOM Board
c)       to be a member of a maximum of three international ICOM committees, to vote and be elected to the positions of one of them
d)      to participate in general conferences and plenary assemblies of ICOM (general assembly)
e)      to be elected to the executive council, to the position of chair and vice-chair of the advisory committee

V.3  Rights of Holders of Student Membership:

a)  to participate in the SK ICOM Assembly without voting and election rights
b)  to participate in general conferences and plenary sessions of ICOM (general assembly)

V.4  Rights of Holders of Extraordinary Membership:

a)  to participate in ICOM Assemblies with voting rights
b)  to vote in the SK ICOM Board (but without the right to be elected)
c)  to participate in general conferences (general conferences)

V.5  Rights of Institutional Members:

The statutory body of an institutional member may appoint in writing its maximum three representatives from among the employees who will represent it. The appointed representatives of the institutional member have the right:
a)       to participate in the SK ICOM Assembly with voting rights (one representative – one vote)
b)      to vote and be elected to the SK ICOM Board
c)       to be members of international ICOM committees, to vote and be elected to one of them
d)      to participate in general conferences and plenary sessions of ICOM (general assembly)
e)      to be elected to the executive council, to the position of chair and vice-chair of the advisory committee

V.6  Obligations of All SK ICOM Members:

a)  to comply with the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums
c)  to notify the SK ICOM Board of any changes in the data provided in the application, especially if it affects the membership category
d)  to promote the good name of SK ICOM and ICOM and to support democratic ways of cooperation in its activities

Article VI SK ICOM Bodies

The bodies of SK ICOM are the SK ICOM Board and the SK ICOM Assembly. The SK ICOM Board is elected by the SK ICOM Assembly for a period of three years.

VI.1  SK ICOM Board

a)       consists of 5 members elected by the members of the Assembly with voting rights
b)      is quorate if at least three of its members are present
c)       meets as needed, but at least 4 times a year, keeps written minutes of the meetings, which are archived
d)      accepts members of SK ICOM, decides on the admission of members to SK ICOM
e)      proposes activities of SK ICOM, decides on the activities of SK ICOM as well as on international and national partnerships of SK ICOM
f)        prepares projects, raises funds, manages the property of SK ICOM in accordance with the statutes
g)       keeps accurate records of income and expenses in the cash register and in the bank account, prepares an annual financial report, which is submitted to the members at the Assembly.
h)      prepares the Assembly, elections, annual report, and annual framework plan of activities
i)        Individual members (regular and seniors) and appointed representatives of institutional members may run for the SK ICOM Board.
j)        Election mechanism:

Candidates may be proposed by any member of SK ICOM. The candidate must agree with the proposed candidacy. In case they cannot participate in the elections for serious reasons, their consent to the candidacy must be delivered to the SK ICOM Board no later than the day before the SK ICOM Assembly. The names of SK ICOM members running for the SK ICOM Board will be published at the Assembly before the elections. During the elections, at least 20% of SK ICOM members with voting rights must be present at the Assembly, either in person or by mail or email delivered to the SK ICOM Board no later than the day before the start of the Assembly.
Each candidate for the SK ICOM Board is voted on individually.
The members of SK ICOM who receive the most votes will be elected to the SK ICOM Board. The counting of votes and the announcement of results will be carried out by the Election Committee consisting of three present members of SK ICOM proposed by the SK ICOM Board and subsequently individually elected at the beginning of the election Assembly.
k)       A member of the Board may hold their position for a maximum of two consecutive election terms.
l)        The members of the Board elect among themselves a chair, secretary, and treasurer for a mutually agreed time within the period for which they were elected, of which they will keep a written record, which the secretary archives. These positions are honorary and are performed without compensation. The only exception may be the secretary (see Article VII. c).
m)    If a member of the Board resigns in writing during the term for which they were elected, or if their membership in SK ICOM ceases, the Board may appoint another member of SK ICOM (who has the right to be elected) to their place through supplementary elections, which will be held at the next Assembly. The Board will prepare the supplementary elections. The newly elected member of the Board will end their election term at the same time as the SK ICOM Board to which they were elected.

VI.2  SK ICOM Assembly

a)       consists of all members of SK ICOM who have renewed their membership for the relevant year by the date of its holding
b)      is quorate if at least 20% of SK ICOM members with voting rights are present, the matter under discussion is considered approved if the majority of present members with voting rights vote for it
c)       is convened at least once a year by the SK ICOM Board with an invitation sent at least 14 days before the date of its holding
d)      elects the SK ICOM Board
e)      proposes activities, both national and international partnerships of SK ICOM
f)        approves the annual report and financial report for the past year and the framework plan of activities for the following year, which is submitted by the SK ICOM Board
g)       the secretary of SK ICOM prepares minutes from each Assembly, which are archived along with the attendance list.
h)      in justified cases, upon the decision of the SK ICOM Board, it is possible to hold the general assembly online.

Article VII
Property of SK ICOM

a)       may be used only in accordance with the objectives of SK ICOM
b)      may be used to finance administrative tasks related to the activities of SK ICOM
c)       may be used to pay the secretary’s remuneration in the amount approved by the SK ICOM Assembly
d)      The property of SK ICOM may consist of:

  • contributions from membership fees
  • acquired donations (not only financial), subsidies, grants, contributions
  • fees set at conferences, seminars, professional excursions, and other events organized, especially from participants who are not members of SK ICOM
  • fees from the sale of publications, books

e)      The financial resources of SK ICOM are managed in simple accounting – in cash or in the SK ICOM bank account. Access to the account is generally held by the treasurer, secretary, and chair of the SK ICOM Board, but at least two of the mentioned individuals.

Article VIII
Statutes of SK ICOM

The Statutes of SK ICOM are approved by the SK ICOM Assembly.
a)       Any amendment or change may be proposed by SK ICOM members. The wording of the proposed changes and any explanatory material must be submitted to the members of SK ICOM at least 21 days before the Assembly at which they will be discussed.
b)      Proposed changes and amendments may be modified during the Assembly only if these modifications are of a fundamental nature. The SK ICOM Board will decide which modifications are or are not of a fundamental nature.
c)       For the approval of changes and amendments, it is necessary that at least 20% of members with voting rights are present at the Assembly and that the majority of them agree to the changes and amendments.

Article IX
Dissolution of SK ICOM

SK ICOM is considered dissolved if it ceases to be recognized by the ICOM executive board or if at three repeatedly convened Assemblies there is no legally valid number of votes for the election of the SK ICOM Board.

These statutes were discussed and approved at the SK ICOM Assembly on May 25, 2022, and from this day they become valid.

Mgr. Zuzana Šidlíková, PhD
Secretary

PhDr. Dalibor Mikulík
Chair