On the basis of its mission, and also taking into account the guidelines of the ICOM Ethics Code for Museums, the institutional goals of the m.a.x. museo are defined as follows:
- it contributes, through all its activities, to the cultural and social enhancement of Chiasso and, in particular, to its artistic heritage in the broadest sense
- it engages in organic collaborative relationships with the other structures of the Office of Cultural Activities and other institutions, to foster cultural and social activities in Chiasso
- it provides continuous training and ensures the professional and human growth of its permanent and temporary staff
- it enhances the area of support for the museum, its activities and its interactions with other cultural bodies active in the region
- it enhances the quality and efficiency of the museum’s model of internal organization, through the development of an integrated system of operating standards and quality controls
- it continually increases the technological level and capacity for innovation of the m.a.x. museo, in both its organizational and activities, including in particular research, the offer of services to the public and cultural products and communications
- it augments the economic resources available for its activities
- it plans for slow and steady growth – in keeping with the objective market opportunities – in the self–financing quota of the m.a.x. museo, taking into account, in every case, that the museum is not a for-profit enterprise and that it basically offers a service to culture and indirectly supports the civil and economic growth of the community
- it preserves, manages, enhances and valorises its permanent museum collection of graphics, design, and artworks in the broadest sense
- it preserves, manages, enhances and valorises its library specialising in graphics, design and visual communication
- it preserves, manages, enhances and valorises its image and photographic archives of the applied arts, graphic design and visual communication
- it promotes, organises and conducts studies and research, including work in the field, into the architectural, artistic and graphic heritage, its importance and values, so as to contribute to the retrieval of knowledge in this sector
- it fosters and promotes the dissemination at all levels, above all in the primary and secondary schools, of the themes of graphic art, photography and design
- it organises and undertakes educational activities for the public at all levels, with a particular concern for the definition of policies for the periodic involvement of students of all educational levels in the region
- it organises and conducts advanced formative activities – debates, seminars, conferences and other events – of national and international relevance on contemporary art, design, graphics and visual communication
- it provides consultancy and scholarly support for public and private bodies and institutions active in the museum field related to graphic design and visual communication
- it fosters a multidisciplinary scholarly dialogue with all qualified subjects at the cantonal, national and international levels, on important topics related to art, design and visual communication
- it promotes and conducts regular collaborative relations through protocols of understanding with institutions of high scientific, academic, educational and museum importance in the cantonal, national and international spheres, with a view to creating networks, groupings and multinational consortia capable of presenting projects of national and international interest
- it contributes to the promotion and development of museum activities, supporting their interests and promoting their professional skills, particularly in the field of the museography of art, graphics design and visual communication, playing an active part in synergy with cantonal, national and international associations and consortia which set themselves similar objectives
- it promotes and, through protocols of intent with universities and other academic institutions present in the region, presents the m.a.x. museo as a venue for university level teaching of art, graphics, design and contemporary visual communication
- it promotes the creation of, and in particular lends its support to, Bachelor’s degree programs, Master’s degree programmes, PhD degrees and forms of post-graduate artistic research directed at the formation of professional skills active in the field of the Sciences of the Arts and Cultural Activites, with a particular focus on the themes of art, graphics, design and contemporary visual communication
- it promotes the creation and coordination of networks and consortia between public and private institutions and those for the management of cultural initiatives of notable importance for the economic, social, cultural and tourist promotion of the region, in the m.a.x. museo’s disciplinary field
- it creates and enhances, through periodic protocols of collaboration, a national and international network of public and private organisations capable of promoting, producing and communicating temporary exhibitions and other cultural events and encouraging exchanges of projects, productions and co-productions by the m.a.x. museo with similar activities developed on the national and international levels
- it communicates the museum’s activities and its spirit of service to the territory by all possible means
- it promotes, organises and manages Internet facilities that focus on contemporary art, graphics, design and visual communication.