Circular No. 18/2010/TT-BVHTTDL on the organization and operation of museums

CIRCULAR

Provisions on the organization and operation of museums

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Pursuant to the Cultural Heritage Law dated June 29, 2001 and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Cultural Heritage Law dated June 18, 2009;

Based on Decree No. 98/2010/NĐ-CP dated September 21, 2010 of the Government detailing the implementation of certain provisions of the Cultural Heritage Law and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Cultural Heritage Law;

Pursuant to Decree No. 185/2007/NĐ-CP dated December 25, 2007 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism stipulates the organization and operation of museums as follows:

Article 1. Objects and scope of regulation

1. This Circular regulates the organization and operation of public museums and non-public museums.

2. This Circular applies to organizations and individuals in Vietnam participating in the establishment, organization, and operation of museums in Vietnam.

Article 2. Naming of museums

1. Naming according to the main content of activities or collections of the museum;

2. Naming according to the name of a prominent person, the name of the locality where the museum's headquarters is located, the name of the managing unit, or the name of the museum's owner;

3. The name of the museum shall not be identical with the name of a museum that has been established or granted an operating permit by competent authorities;

4. The name of the museum shall not be combined with the phrases "Vietnam" or "National," except for museums established by the Prime Minister's decision.

Article 3. Organization of museums

1. The organizational structure of the museum is decided by the authority responsible for its establishment, in accordance with the powers, functions, tasks, and content of the museum's activities, including: Museum leadership, departments or functional units, subordinate units.

2. The Director of the museum is responsible for organizing professional training for civil servants, officials, and employees to enhance their qualifications to meet the requirements of museum operations.

3. Museums may participate as members of international professional organizations related to their activities in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Article 4. Scientific Council of the museum

1. The Scientific Council of the museum is established by the Director of the museum within his/her authority, serving as an advisory body to the Director regarding short-term and long-term development directions and scientific issues related to the museum's activities; evaluating the scientific value and economic value of materials and objects relevant to the museum's activities.

2. The Scientific Council of the museum includes: Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, and Members who are reputable scientists both domestically and internationally in fields related to the content of the museum's activities.

3. The operating budget of the Scientific Council of the museum is included in the museum's operating budget.

Article 5. Scientific research activities

1. Scientific research activities of the museum are carried out regularly through the implementation of scientific topics at various levels, programs, projects, and plans according to short-term and long-term plans.

Scientific research activities must be integrated and improve the quality of the museum's activities to serve the public and contribute to the development of museology theory.

2. Museums may collaborate with domestic and foreign organizations and individuals to implement scientific research programs and plans related to museum activities in accordance with the law.

Article 6. Activities of collecting, documenting materials, objects, and intangible cultural heritage

1. Museums may collect, document materials, objects, and intangible cultural heritage both domestically and internationally in accordance with the scope, objects, and content of the museum's activities.

2. Museums organize the collection and documentation of materials, objects, and intangible cultural heritage through the following methods:

a) Field surveys for collecting and documenting materials, objects, and intangible cultural heritage;

b) Archaeological excavations;

c) Receiving materials and objects transferred or donated by organizations and individuals;

d) Purchasing or exchanging materials and objects with organizations and individuals.

Collection and documentation of materials, objects, and intangible cultural heritage must comply with current laws and international conventions to which Vietnam is a party.

3. Materials and objects of the museum may be transferred, liquidated, or destroyed in the following cases:

a) Not suitable for the scope, objects, and content of the museum's activities;

b) Damaged beyond repair;

c) Determined to be harmful to people and the environment;

d) Determined to be inaccurate regarding history, culture, and science;

đ) Determined to be inconsistent with professional ethical standards;

e) Determined to have an illegal origin.

Based on the advice of the Scientific Council of the museum and relevant legal provisions, the Director of the non-public museum decides on the transfer, liquidation, or destruction of materials and objects; the Director of the public museum proposes to the head of the directly managing agency or organization to decide on the transfer, liquidation, or destruction of materials and objects.

Article 7. Inventory Activities

1. Museums organize inventory activities for documents and objects in accordance with the Museum Object Inventory Regulations issued by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism pursuant to Decision No. 70/2006/QĐ-BVHTT dated September 15, 2006.

2. The inventory files for documents and objects shall be established and managed stably and long-term; they shall be stored in writing and through information technology.

Article 8. Preservation Activities

1. Preservation activities for documents and objects include:

a) Arranging documents and objects and organizing storage facilities for preservation;

b) Preparing records on the current status of documents and objects and their preservation environment;

c) Organizing preventive preservation, therapeutic preservation, disaster prevention, and risk management for documents and objects.

2. Preservation must be carried out for all documents and objects during exhibition, while stored in warehouses, and when taken outside the museum.

3. Preservation of documents and objects must comply with preservation procedures, principles, techniques, and be consistent with customs, traditions, and beliefs related to the documents and objects.

Article 9. Exhibition Activities of Documents and Objects and Introduction of Intangible Cultural Heritage

1. Exhibition activities of documents and objects and introduction of intangible cultural heritage by museums include:

a) Long-term and short-term exhibitions at the museum;

b) Itinerant exhibitions within and outside the country;

c) Organizing introductions of intangible cultural heritage.

2. Exhibition of documents and objects and introduction of intangible cultural heritage by museums must ensure:

a) Consistency with the scope, target audience, and content of museum activities;

b) Emphasis on original documents and objects;

c) Introduction of intangible cultural heritage must be linked to documents, objects, and exhibition content of the museum, contributing to the protection and promotion of the value of intangible cultural heritage;

d) Exhibition explanations must provide comprehensive, clear, and accurate information about documents and objects and be suitable for the audience;

đ) Replicas and reproductions of documents and objects must be accurate, scientific, and clearly annotated;

e) Facilitate visits and maintain security and safety for documents, objects, and visitors;

g) Comply with legal regulations on political protection and social order and public safety.

Article 10. Educational Activities

1. Educational activities of museums include:

a) Guiding tours;

b) Organizing educational programs;

c) Organizing scientific seminars, roundtable discussions, and specialized lectures;

d) Publishing publications related to museum educational activities.

2. Museum educational programs must be consistent with the content of activities and the target audience of the museum.

3. Museum educational programs aim to create opportunities and encourage various forms of learning and cultural enjoyment by the public.

Article 11. Communication Activities

1. Communication activities of museums include:

a) Introducing the content and activities of the museum through mass media;

b) Organizing promotional programs, developing the public, and socializing museum activities;

c) Organizing public feedback on museum activities;

d) Building networks of organizations and individuals relevant to developing museum activities domestically and internationally.

2. Museum communication activities must be consistent with the scope, target audience, and content of museum activities and comply with relevant legal regulations.

Article 12. Service activities

1. The service activities of museums include:

a) Organizing catering, resting, entertainment services, and other services;

b) Developing souvenir products and publishing museum publications;

c) Organizing cultural, educational, sports, and tourism events;

d) Providing information and reference materials;

đ) Providing technical and museum business consulting;

e) Appraising and evaluating artifacts, antiques, and national treasures;

g) Preserving, restoring, and making copies of documents and objects;

h) Cooperating in archaeological excavations;

i) Cooperating in professional training for museum staff.

2. Museum service activities must be consistent with the functions and tasks of the museum and relevant legal provisions to meet the public's learning, sightseeing, and cultural enjoyment needs or individual and organizational orders.

Article 13. Implementation Provisions

1. This Circular takes effect from March 1, 2011.

2. The following documents are hereby abolished:

a) Decision No. 132/1998/QĐ-BVHTT dated February 6, 1998, issued by the Minister of Culture and Information on the Regulations on the Organization and Operation of Museums;

b) Decision No. 09/2004/QĐ-BVHTT dated February 24, 2004, issued by the Minister of Culture and Information on the Regulations on the Organization and Operation of Private Museums.

3. The Heritage Department shall be responsible for monitoring, supervising, and inspecting the implementation of this Circular.

4. In case of any issues arising during implementation, organizations, institutions, and individuals should promptly report them to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (through the Heritage Department) for review, supplementation, and amendment./.