What do we mean by 'ethics'

So what exactly are we speaking about when we say ’ethics’? We are speaking about the moral principles which will govern behaviour and/or when conducting a particular activity.

They are often systemised and captured in what is called a code of ethics for an institution, or the ethical guidelines or principles. A written and public document, it allows for dialogue, transparency and accountability between institutions, stakeholders and the communities it serves. The International Council of Museums has designed and written a code of ethics, wherein we can find very specific references to the relationships between museums, audiences and the communities they serve.

We will explore those in a moment. Ethical leadership is the kind of behaviour, approaches and institutional culture which is nurtured to support inclusive practices within the culture of the museum. While ethics always implies a right and wrong, it is important to remember that understanding the local and national contexts is vital for their application.