About IMHS
The Institute for Museums, Heritage and Society (IMHS), formerly Museums, Galleries and Collections Institute, was founded on 28 September 2005 by Professor Ian Carradice, supported by the School of Art History at the University of St Andrews.
IMHS aims to promote excellence in museology, heritage studies, and practice. Its main objectives have changed throughout the years, following the latest transformation in the sector of museums and heritage. We include the word ‘society’ in the name of the Institute to reflect our understanding that people are fundamental and central to museums and heritage.
Since its founding, IMHS has contributed to raise the profile of the School of Art History to become an international centre for museology, engaging in critical issues including the International Council of Museums (ICOM) museum definition, sustainability, climate change, social inclusion and exclusion, restitution, repatriation, and decolonisation in the museum and heritage sector.
The current IMHS objectives are:
- to be a focus for high-quality research on the history, theory, and practice of museums and heritage organisations
- to undertake and promote research
- to foster interdisciplinary and collaborative research
- to respond to the training needs of the sector
- to enhance the teaching portfolio by developing short courses for CPD, career development and specialist expertise
