Dear friends and colleagues,

 

The 24th ICOM General Conference in Milan is getting closer.

 

The theme of Milan’s Conference is Museums and Cultural Landscapes, a challenge for 21st century museums. It faces issues that are central to ICOM’s vision and strategy. It highlights the new responsibilities of our museums towards the heritage that surrounds them. It offers a unique opportunity to form new partnerships with other professionals of the cultural heritage. Our aim is that a Declaration of ICOM on Museums and Cultural Landscapes be approved of in Milan, so that new strategic objectives and programmes are set for contemporary museums.

 

Italy is a great open-air museum, “the museum of museums”. Coming to Milan will offer you the chance to visit some of the loveliest art cities in the world (Turin, Verona, Padua, Venice, Genoa, Bologna, Florence, Rome, etc.). They are all well connected with Milan by high-speed trains in one to three hours.

 

Milan is waiting for you. In 2016 you will visit a cosmopolitan, creative city. A city of culture, design and fashion that lies in the centre of an area with the highest density of museums in the world. Coming to Milan will offer you a taste of the celebrated Italian hospitality, of Italian food and of the unique Italian way of life.

 

Italian museum professionals are eager to open their museums and share their activities and ideas with colleagues from all over the world.

 

I am sure that ICOM 2016 Milano will be a great opportunity for personal and professional growth and will open a new exciting page in the history of ICOM.

 

Ciao and arrivederci in Milan!

 

Alberto Garlandini
President of the Italian Organising Committee of ICOM 2016 Milano