Welcome to the Glass Age

166 and visits, fostering the sharing of knowledge, and providing collaborative opportunities among members (Figure 10.13). A specific Working Group devoted to Glass and Ceramics was created by ICOM-CC, the ICOM International Committee for conservation professionals, with the aim of promoting glass conservation and restoration, disseminating information and best practice. Glass museums and the 21 st century Museums are facing today the challenge of remaining significant in a rapidly changing world. They are driven to perform the basic functions described above while creating a more responsible relationship with their audience and communities. The promotion of diversity and inclusion as opposed to inequality, the defence of human rights, and the accomplishment of the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals are issues museums are expected to address in their policies and everyday practices, sharing the vision of a peaceful, equitable, safe and sustainable world. Is there any specific value that glass museums and collections can identify as a key factor in the process of building their new role in the society? Because glass is a unique combination of history, symbolism, technology, science, art, and everyday life it could be argued that glass museums are well equipped for this task. Speaking of glass to people is a powerful tool to increase inclusion and participation. Announcing that we are living in the Glass Age, David L. Morse and Jeffrey W. Evenson motivated their believe in this way: “The first reason is the ubiquity of glass and its central role in our day-to-day lives. We interact with glass screens on our computers and smart phones, take pictures through glass lenses, transmit and receive information via glass fibers, protect materials in glass covers and containers, and incorporate decorative and functional glass elements into our homes” (Morse & Evenson, 2016). Glass started to impact on the world many centuries ago, and it will continue to do so. Museums will continue telling its stories. References [1] Report on the implementation of the UNESCO 2015 Recommendation on Museums & Collections , UNESCO 2019. Available at the UNESCO Open Access Repository (http://www.unesco.org/open- access/terms-use-ccbysa-en). [2] The current ICOM definition of museum – “ A museum is a non-profit, permanent institution in the service of society and its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for the purposes of education, study and enjoyment ” – is at the present (2022) under revision: www.icom.museum Further reading A lberti , S. J. M. M. (2005): “Objects and the Museum”, Isis , 96: 559-571. H ahn , T. (1991): “In love with glass”, Museum International , 43 (4): 202-205.