20 October 2026
Do you work in a museum? Your experience counts. ICOM LAC is carrying out the first regional study of working conditions in museums in Latin America and the Caribbean News, Noticia
The ICOM Regional Alliance for Latin America and the Caribbean (ICOM LAC) is carrying out the first regional study on working conditions in the museums of our region. We want to know what it is like to work in a museum today: how people are hired, how far their income goes, who takes part in decisions, what training is missing and what keeps people in the profession.
The survey is anonymous and takes 10 to 20 minutes. It is open to everyone who works in a museum, under any type of contract or arrangement, including those who work on a fee basis or as service providers, and in any role: management, curatorial work, conservation, education, mediation, installation, visitor services, administration, maintenance, cleaning and security. ICOM membership is not required.
Your answers are confidential and will be used solely for this study. No one at your institution, your National Committee or ICOM LAC will have access to them, and results will always be published in aggregate form.
English: https://forms.gle/cN112s3Jm2uMSsBD7
The survey will close on 6 November 2026. Please share it with your colleagues, especially those working in operational roles or on a fee basis: theirs are the voices least represented in studies of the sector.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Survey
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who is conducting the study, and what resources fund it? | The study was commissioned by the ICOM Regional Alliance for Latin America and the Caribbean, with funding from ICOM SAREC and support from CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. It is conducted by AURA Consultoría Cultural, an independent firm based in Mexico City. |
| Is the survey anonymous? | Yes. The form does not ask for your name or institution, does not collect email addresses, and does not require you to sign in. At the end, you may voluntarily provide contact details for an interview. This information is stored separately from your responses and deleted when the study concludes. |
| Will my institution be able to see my responses? | No. No one at your institution, your National Committee or ICOM LAC will have access to individual responses. Results will always be published in aggregated form. |
| What happens to the membership databases provided by the Committees? | They are used solely to send out the survey invitation. AURA does not share them, use them for any other purpose, or retain them beyond the conclusion of the study. |
| I am not an ICOM member. Can I take part? | Yes. The survey is open to anyone who works in a museum, whether or not they are an ICOM member. |
| I work on a fee basis, as a volunteer, or through a company. Am I included? | Yes. The study defines a museum worker as anyone whose work supports the institution’s operation, regardless of their type of contract or working arrangement. |
| I work in cleaning, security or maintenance. Is the survey for me? | Yes. These roles are part of the operational, frontline and mediation level, one of the three levels measured by the study. |
| How long does it take? | Between 10 and 20 minutes, depending on your role. It is best to complete it in one sitting: the form saves your responses when you submit it. |
| What languages is it available in? | Spanish, Portuguese, English and French. Each language has its own link. |
| Can I print something for my museum? | A letter-size poster is attached to this toolkit. |
| What should I do if a question makes me uncomfortable? | You can leave it unanswered and continue. Only three questions are mandatory: consent, country and job role. The more sensitive questions include a “prefer not to answer” option. |
| What will the study be used for? | To produce the first comparable regional evidence on working conditions in museums across Latin America and the Caribbean, with results broken down by country, job level and thematic area. |
| When will the results be available? | The regional report will be submitted to ICOM LAC on 18 December 2026, and the results will be presented to the National Committees in January 2027. |
| Who should I contact if I have questions? | secretaria.icomlac(a)gmail.com |
