Corporate body

UNESCO. Section of Museums and Cultural Objects

• UNESCO. Section des musées et des objets culturels

2007-2011

Before the creation of the Department of Cultural Activities (CUA) in 1948, there existed a Museums Section/Division from 1947-c. 1948. During CUA’s existence from 1948-1965, and before the major reshuffle that created the Social Sciences, Human Sciences and Culture Sector (SHC) in 1966, there existed a division with the following name changes: Division of Museums and Historical Monuments (1950-1951); Preservation of Cultural Heritage of Mankind (1952-1954?); Division of Monuments and Museums (1956?-1964); Division of Monuments, Sites and Museums (1965-1966.) Within SHC, the Department of Culture continued to exist and within its Division of Protection and Development of Cultural Heritage, there existed the Monuments and Museums Section (1967?-1970). In 1972, the Department of Culture within SHC split into two new departments and the museums programme was organized under the Department of Cultural Heritage (CLP). It was called the Standards, Research and Museums Section from 1972 to 1974 (not within any division). In 1974, it was renamed the Division of Museums. In 1975, the two Departments within SHC disappeared and the unit was renamed the Division of Museums and Standards. The Sectors were reorganized and the culture programme was merged with the communication programme to form the Sector for Culture and Communication (CC) in 1976. The museums programming was likely carried out by the Division of Cultural Heritage (1976-1989) at this time because staff members from the former unit continued on in this Division. The CC Sector was split apart by programme so that there was an independent Culture Sector from 1981 to 1985, until the programmes merged again to reform CC from 1986 to 1989. The Culture Sector (CLT) was on its own again by 1990. The Division of Cultural Heritage was renamed the Division of Physical Heritage circa 1991. The Division becomes again the Division of Cultural Heritage (1997-2006). Within the Division of Cultural Heritage (CLT/CH), there was the Museum International unit (1993-2006) and the Tangible Heritage Section (CLT/THS) (2003?-2006). From 2007 to 2010, there was a Section of Museums and Cultural Objects (CLT/CIH/MCO) within the Division of Cultural Objects and Intangible Heritage (CLT/CIH). As part of a larger reorganization of the Culture Sector in 2011, the Museums Section (CLT/DDD/MUS) was created in the new Division of Thematic Programmes for Diversity, Development and Dialogue.

Enhancing the protection of cultural objects, the fight against illicit trafficking in them, and the development of museums, particularly in developing countries. Publishing Museum International.

Title rule: Canadian Rules for Archival Description rule 24.14 - intervening elements in hierarchy of headings omitted.

Draft

Partial

2011-02-08, created, AWT. Revised to add CLT/DDD/MUS information, AWT, 09/10/2012.

-Programme Commission IV (now CLT Commission) reports to GC
-AG 6/9: Lists of Members of the Secretariat, [Staff Lists] 1945-2007
-LAD.85/WS/4 Rev. Paris, December 1987. A Chronology of UNESCO 1945-1987.
-General Conference. Approved Programme and Budget 2008-2009. 34 C/5. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0015/001586/158606e.pdf
-UNESCO. (2011). Enhancing the delivery capacity of the Culture Sector through adjustments to its structure at Headquarters. 6 June 2011. DG/Note/11/19. Archive Group 6: Secretariat Documents. Available in UNESDOC: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0019/001927/192724e.pdf