CFP: Back to Basics: ICOM COMMS + ICOMON Annual Conference

Master the fundamentals.
Unlock the tools.

When 2 – 4 December 2026
Where Heureka, Vantaa, Finland

The conference theme acknowledges a pivotal moment for the museum sector. Tools that were once available only to large, well-resourced institutions are now within reach of small and medium-sized museums everywhere.

Yet this democratization of technology creates a paradox: the more powerful the tools, the more essential it becomes to master the fundamentals. Strategy before software. Story before algorithm. Human connection before digital spectacle.

The conference advocates a strategic return to core principles — clear communication, collaboration, purposeful audience engagement, sound marketing and PR fundamentals, and institutional storytelling — as the foundation for making high-tech tools truly effective.

For the 1st time, ICOM COMMS and ICOMON will be together, welcoming attendees who will learn how to transform their museum’s online and offline presence by focusing on essential fundamentals of institutional change, storytelling, engagement, and fundraising. Also, ICOM Exhibitions will join us to host and moderate a session.  You just can’t miss it!

Share your story. Shape the conversation.

Call for proposals is open until July 31 2026

We invite all museum professionals — in communications, management, education, and exhibitions — to submit proposals. Whether you lead a national institution or a local community museum, your experience matters.

Papers
Articles
Presentations
Workshops

Special program tracks

Yes, we can: how we overcame the “Not Possible” mindset. Discuss how digital tools have removed historical obstacles related to budgets, staffing, and specialized technical skills in small-to-medium museums.

And we are all together: Unlock High-Impact Audience Engagement in Museum Projects. There is room for great projects that listen to colleagues’ needs and apply fundamental principles to deliver high-quality, professional results.

Follow the money: where are the investments heading? The main challenge for museum directors, which constrains most museum initiatives regardless of their merit, is revenue generation.