Call for papers Museum International: ‘Artificial Intelligence in Museums’

Call for papers: Museum International

ICOM is preparing an issue of Museum International on the theme of ‘Artificial Intelligence in Museums’ (Vol. 79, Nº 315-316). All proposals submitted will be assessed for suitability, and if chosen, the subsequent articles will go through a double-blind peer review process. The issue is expected to be published, in collaboration with Taylor & Francis/Routledge, in December 2027.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly shaping the ways museums operate, whether in terms of collecting, preserving, interpreting or communicating our cultural heritage. From automated cataloguing and machine-learning models for collection management, integrating collections metadata across collecting institutions at national and continental scales, to exhibition design and conversational interfaces in visitor management, AI offers new opportunities for museum management, while also presenting profound ethical, social and professional challenges.

Museums have long been regarded as institutions of cultural authority and public trust, serving as stewards of cultural heritage and shaping how societies understand, interpret and remember the past. As AI technologies become increasingly embedded in museum practice, fundamental questions arise about the sustainability of that authority and public trust. The nature of museums’ expertise is evolving, and questions arise around representation bias, intellectual property, historical accuracy, accessibility, sustainability and the future roles of museum professionals. AI also prompts renewed reflections on the relationships between human creativity and technology, the ethics of digital heritage and the roles and responsibilities of museums in the age of rapidly evolving digital technologies.

At the same time, the rapid adoption of AI underscores the need for responsible governance and regulatory frameworks, informed by the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (2021) and the European Union’s AI Act. It also highlights the growing importance of institutional AI policies and governance mechanisms within the museum sector.

This call invites scholars, museum practitioners, technologists, artists and policymakers to explore the application of AI in museums. We welcome interdisciplinary contributions that critically examine the opportunities and limitations of AI use and application within museums and cultural institutions.

Possible themes include, but are not limited to:

Abstracts of between 250 and 300 words, written in English, French or Spanish, should be submitted for selection to publications@icom.museum in a Word (.doc) document (if you do not receive confirmation of receipt within 2 weeks, it is possible that your e-mail did not reach us – do not hesitate to write to us again). Contributions will be on a voluntary basis.

The following information should be included with the abstract:

The abstract submission deadline is 9 November 2026

The abstracts received will be examined on a blind review basis by a panel of experts on the topic.

Museum International is published in English. However, proposals in the other two official languages of ICOM (French and Spanish) will also be considered. If your abstract is selected, we will provide guidelines for your full article, and you’ll have approximately two months to complete it. You may also submit your full article in either English, French or Spanish.

Abstract structure for Museum International articles:

An abstract is a summary of the journal manuscript.

It should be no longer than 250-300 words (excluding selected references) and provide a succinct overview of the article. Please send your abstract in a word document. The abstract should be read as a standalone document and the document should not contain images or footnotes.

The abstract should read as a standalone document.

Abstracts sent to Museum International should include the following sections (not necessarily presented in this way, but all elements need to be included):