Craven Museum & Gallery
Craven District Council
Collections Development Policy
Date: April 2013
Next review date: April 2016
1. Museum’s statement of purpose
“To collect, preserve and showcase the natural, cultural and artistic heritage of Craven
in order to inspire, engage and involve the public. We aim to encourage learning and
creativity through giving the people of Craven and beyond easy and open access to
the museum and its resources.”
2. An overview of current collections
2.1
Archaeology
Craven and the Yorkshire Dales is acknowledged to be one of Yorkshire’s richer
archaeological areas. Sites from the very earliest times are regularly discovered and reevaluated, adding greatly to our knowledge of over five thousand years of history.
The existing archaeology collection is amongst the museum’s strongest. Items in the
collection span many time periods from Palaeolithic to post-medieval. Early in the museum’s
history various foreign antiquities were acquired, mainly from Italy and Egypt. Since the
1970s almost all archaeological acquisitions have come from within Craven. The localities
most heavily represented are:
Elbolton
Malham Moor
Elslack
Gargrave
2.2
material from the prehistoric cave
prehistoric flints
material from the Roman fort
material from Kirk Sink Roman villa
Medieval material from Higher Land
Agricultural
Craven’s farming history is strongly reflected in this collection. Items relate to livestock
husbandry, land use, building design and use, etc. Objects fall loosely into two categories of
manufacture: hand-made, and factory-made. Items in the existing collection mainly fall into
the period from the mid-19th century onwards. The collection of locally hand-made items is
quite large, but lacks, due to space limitations certain larger objects, eg carts, hay rake,
muck spreader.
1
2.3
Domestic Life
This category covers a very broad range of subjects: household furniture and fittings,
games and pastimes, etc. The existing collection of furniture is restricted almost entirely to
locally manufactured pieces. The majority of the toy, games and model collection is made
up of either locally made toys or early mass produced games and toys. Also included in the
collection are several 20th century dolls. Small-scale industries, such as carpentry and
blacksmithing, are quite well reflected in the collections.
2.4
Business, Trade and Industry
The collection consists mainly of items relating to local merchants such Thompson the
woodturners of Sutton and Thornton & Sons of Skipton and is relatively strong but not
broad in base.
2.5
Social Life
Social Life encompasses education, religion, leisure, and society in general. There are few
school items in the collection, most of which are duplicated; certificates, prize books,
classroom charts. Most of the church artefacts are concerned with communion: tokens,
cups, jugs. There are few objects from the day-to-day running of churches, and the work of
the clergy. Organised sport only dates from the early 20 th century, and the collection is
small, mainly trophies, e.g. for swimming. The range of music-related objects is limited.
Recorded music is poorly represented with a handful of records. There are only one or two
instruments (pianos and a Serpent).
2.6
Textiles
Cotton production, from the 18th century onwards, has played an important part of local
economy. While some local firms, like Dewhursts, form the basis of this collection; the variety of
mills and their produce are poorly represented. The collection contains a number of rag rugs
made in Craven as well as hooks, prodders and other textile tools
2.6.1 Woven Textiles
There are no examples of either domestically or commercially woven Craven textiles
or cloth.
2.6.2 Textile Tools
The Museum Service does not hold any domestic spinning wheels but it does have
associated cairds, pirms, etc. Weaving tools are also poorly represented. In addition
the museum does not have any industrial looms, post-Victorian sewing machines or
knitting machines.
2.7
Costume
2.7.1 Women’s Wear
There is a relatively good collection of mid-19th to mid-20th century women’s’ wear,
consisting mainly of formal items, especially wedding and mourning outfits.
2.7.2 Men’s Wear
The men’s wear collection is particularly limited, consisting mainly of formal clothing
of the Edwardian period.
2.7.3 Children’s Wear
This collection covers a wide period (1850-1950’s), but is very weak, and again
consists mainly of poorly provenanced fine infants’ garments, christening clothing,
etc. Again, footwear, underwear and ‘everyday’ clothing are under represented.
2.8
Photography
Craven Museum has a good collection of photographs comprising glass and film negatives,
lantern and 35mm slides, photographic prints and postcards. Currently the museum has a
programme to digitise its collection of prints to make them available through a variety of
means.
The Museum Service will collect negatives, transparencies, prints, digital images and
postcards which are of relevance to the area. Where possible or available, the Museum
Service will ensure that copyrights to the images are passed to the Council and that the
Museum Service has permission to use the images as required. The Museum Service will
actively use photography to record change in Craven and maintain a contemporary
collection of images.
2.8.1 Postcards
The postcard collection numbers around 200 cards, which are mainly Craven, with a
few British and foreign examples.
2.8.2 Photographic Equipment
This collection is limited, comprising cameras, lenses, and a ciné camera, all used by
local people.
2.9
Oil Paintings
The Museums Service collection of oil paintings consists mainly of portraits, around twenty
in number. Other oils are mainly depictions of Craven views and scenes and are often
unsigned. Pieces dating from the 20th century include work by contemporary Craven artists.
2.10
Watercolours and Drawings
These form the major part of the Fine Art collection, numbering over 30 pieces. Some
contemporary pieces by local artists are also represented.
2.11
Prints
The collection of prints numbers under 50. These are mostly plates from published books
and magazines, such as Whitaker’s “Description of Craven”, and Dawson’s “The Yorkshire
Dales”. Most printmaking techniques are represented in the collection.
2.12
Ceramics, Silver and Pewter
The Museum Service has a very small collection of ceramic material. Of importance is the
growing collection of souvenir ware produced outwith Craven but overstamped with a Dales
theme.
The collection of silver is composed mainly of a religious collection of church ware. Other
items of interest include communion cups and trays. The total silver and pewter collections
within the Museum amount to less than 20 pieces.
2.13
Horology
There are around 40 clocks and, particularly, pocket watches within the Museum Service’s
collections.
2.14
Jewellery
The jewellery collection consists almost entirely of Victorian jet mourning items. The
collection is weak in 20th century and contemporary jewellery.
2.15
Maps
This collection comprises just over 150 pieces.
2.16
Numismatics
There is a representative collection of historical British and foreign coins; trade and church
tokens; medals; and medallions. The coin collection tends to be comprised of individual
finds with little or no information. However, included within the collection are several
banknotes. The Museum Service holds a representative collection of commemorative
medallions and civilian medals, all with a Craven connection. Of particular interest are the
various coronation medals and prize medals (from local agricultural shows etc.) and
lifesaving medals.
2.17
Zoology
There is a collection of mounted birds, containing approximately 20 specimens but the
collection is in a poor condition. There are no recent additions to the collection.
The Museum Service has a small and passively acquired collection of birds’ eggs.
Legislation now prohibits the acquisition of eggs of British birds, and it is not anticipated that
the collection will expand in the future other than from historic collections.
Invertebrate groups such as insects, spiders and molluscs are also represented, but are
sparse in coverage.
2.18
Botany
The botanical collection contains some 2,000 specimens, all local. The Crowther Collection
contains a representative collection of Craven plants and ferns.
2.19
Geology
The geological collection is strong in local minerals, coal measures fossils and reef knoll
deposits. Future examples will only be collected where they are of a Museum standard, and
come with complete documentation.
2.20
Ephemera
The Museum Service ephemera collection is extensive and varied, covering a range of
categories. There are collections of such disparate items as trade labels, soldier’s
discharge papers, textile advertisements, WWII posters, political electioneering, auction
papers, leaflets, etc. The Museum maintains an active policy of collection in close
cooperation with North Yorkshire County Records Service ensuring that items are
deposited within the correct facility.
2.21
Existing loans
The museum is committed to updating all loan records and accounting for the objects in the
collection that are not completely owned by the museum. Some objects catalogued have
been taken in as loans at various points throughout the museums history, each of these
items needs to have appropriate documentation so that ownership is clarified.
3. Themes and priorities for future collecting
.
3.1
Archaeology
3.1.1 The Neolithic collection is weak in material from burials and cairns, and needs more
material from domestic sites; active collection should proceed in these areas.
3.1.2 The Bronze Age material held by the Museum Service is small and includes several
items found in caves. The collection should be further strengthened by materials
from metalworking, burnt mounds and burial sites; active collection should proceed
in these areas.
3.1.3 The Iron Age period is mainly a small collection of donated stray finds. However
there are also individual items of great importance such as the Flasby sword. The
collection should more widely reflect social changes during the period - for example,
burial rites, metalworking, trading goods, local power, etc; active collection should
proceed in these areas.
3.1.4 The Roman collection is quite large and contains a significant proportion of the
building material from Kirk Sink in Gargrave and Elslack Fort. There is also a good
collection of Romano-British small finds including metal work and jewellery. This
collection is a real strength and should be developed as a priority area.
3.1.5 The Anglo-Saxon collection is very limited with only a few small finds such as Viking
pommels. Active collection should proceed in all areas.
3.1.6 The Museum has a broad range of Medieval mainly stray finds, a large proportion of
which consists of organic items found by metal detectorists. There is also a large
amount of material (mainly pottery) from sites in Skipton and Gargrave. Finds from
stratified excavation sites are few. A particular area of interest would be in Medieval
material relating to trading links. Efforts should again be made to collect as widely as
possible within the proper constraints and avoiding duplications.
3.1.7 The upland geography of Craven has led to a separate cultural and economic
development, and to a material culture which is in many ways unique. That same
geographical isolation still prevents Craven people from enjoying this unique heritage
when it is housed elsewhere. It is therefore a key policy of the Museum Service to do
everything possible to keep Craven archaeological material in the district and to work
for the return of that which has been randomly distributed amongst many UK wide
institutions in the past. Strong efforts will be made to ensure that the total products of
all current and future archaeological excavations remain in Craven, or are returned
once any period of post-excavation study has been completed. The Museum Service
will continue to make the case for Craven material held by other institutions to be
returned to Craven where its use by visiting researchers will be more appropriate in
the context of the main archive.
3.1.8 Stray finds will normally only be collected where they are accompanied by full data
and are in good condition, or where by intrinsic nature or quality they add
significantly to knowledge or appreciation of Craven’s past.
3.1.9 It is expected that large accessions will be made in the future from the product of
excavations sponsored by both commercial development work and community
archaeology in the area. These will need to be assessed on an individual basis due
to current storage limitations.
3.1.10 The Museum Service will not acquire any non-Craven material. Where this material
is offered, it will be referred to an appropriate institution.
3.2
Agriculture
Mechanisation of farming is poorly reflected in the collections, and efforts will be made to
address this problem.
3.3
Furniture
Given the bulky size and generic nature of mass-produced furniture, it is not proposed to
collect these.
3.4
Toys and Games
The collection would be strengthened by the acquisition of traditional homemade toys,
which would fill a gap in the collection. These would include straw and wooden dolls, boats,
etc. Commercially manufactured board games up to the 1960s will collected to complement
existing collections. Also, more generic games such and hoop & top and knurr & spell will
be collected but only where they show a strong local connection.
3.5
Domestic
The main division within the collection is between locally and factory-produced items. Mass
produced objects are well represented, but further acquisition, particularly of home made
artefacts would help to broaden the basis of the collection, especially in the area of
household items, such as cutlery, specific food preparation equipment (eg. biscuit and pie
making etc).
3.6
Business, Trade and Industry
The opportunity to collect larger items such as counters, workbenches, etc. is limited.
However, the collection would be strengthened by the acquisition of smaller shop fittings
and actual products, including tins and packaging (especially those bearing local trade or
business names).
The collection could be strengthened by acquiring further items from non-retailing
businesses such as banks, vets, solicitors, etc. Certain trades, such as pharmacy,
stonemasonry and printing are poorly represented, especially in larger workshop objects.
3.7
Education
There are no large items and examples of classroom furnishings, such as a desk and
blackboard are required. Also, small artefacts such as educational toys, charts and religious
material used in schools, particularly up to the 1950s, would be valuable additions to the
collection.
3.8
Sport
Local sport is poorly reflected in the collections. Early sporting artefacts would be desirable;
costume, as well as equipment. Other objects which would build up the collection are items
from early sports clubs, e.g. tennis, rugby, football, and golf. Any sport-related objects,
other than trophies and ephemera, would be highly desirable.
3.9
Woven Textiles
Examples of either domestically or commercially woven Craven textiles or cloth are
required and these should be collected as a priority.
3.10
Women’s Wear
Except in unusual circumstances (for example, objects being presented with very good
provenance), no formal wear between 1880 – 1920 need be acquired. However, certain
weaknesses in the collection are apparent. Workwear (for example, tanners’ overalls or
National Park sweatshirts), everyday clothing, mid-20th century ladies suits, and shoes are
particularly poorly represented, as are articles from the mid 19 th century and post 1920 with
good provenance.
3.11
Men’s Wear
Further acquisition, but only with good local provenance, is required, especially in the area
of workwear, and in garments made from locally produced cloth. Footwear should also be
actively collected, though the poor survival of such artefacts is recognised.
3.12
Children’s Wear
Again, footwear, underwear and ‘everyday’ clothing should be collected.
The collection should be expanded by the addition of hobby and sporting costume. For
example: football and rugby shirts, Scouts, Cubs, Beavers, Boy’s Brigade and Girl Guides.
3.13
Photographs
The Museum Service will continue to collect contemporary photographic material of
relevance, and to actively develop a photographic record of ongoing change in Craven. The
collection would be strengthened by acquiring any available material from the 19 th century,
and from the 1940’s to the present day. An active photographic programme should
strengthen the contemporary collection further.
3.14
Postcards
Craven postcards will be collected but non-Craven postcards will only be collected if they
form part of a much larger personal collection.
3.15
Oil Paintings
The collection would be strengthened by the addition of work from the 18 th and early 19th
centuries, and works from local artists during this time. Contemporary collecting is not a
priority but will be collected passively. Only works from recognised professionals will be
collected.
3.16
Watercolours and Drawings
The collection would be strengthened by actively seeking watercolours and drawings of
Craven scenes, particularly from before 1900. Contemporary collecting whilst not a priority
will be collected passively and where opportunity exists may even be purchased. Only
works from recognised professionals (e.g. members of Aire Valley Artists, Art Connections)
will be collected
3.17
Prints
The collection could be strengthened by the acquisition of further coloured early prints, and
prints which have been specifically produced for the art market. The Museum Service
should collect original works from which prints for illustration or framing have been
produced. Contemporary collecting is not a priority but will be collected passively,
particularly from recognised professionals working under the Craven Print Link umbrella. In
addition, examples of printmakers’ plates, blocks, tools and preparatory sketches are
considered desirable additions to be pursued.
3.18
Ceramics, Silver and Pewter
The present collection does not represent the large number of Craven-born or resident
potters, and steps should be taken to collect a representative collection of contemporary
material from recognised professionals (eg artists registered under Art Connections
scheme). The collection would be strengthened by the acquisition of material by known
local silver and goldsmiths.
3.19
Horology
The collection should only be strengthened by acquiring clocks and watches made or
assembled in Craven, with the clockmaker’s name on the dial.
3.20
Jewellery
The collection is weak in 20th century and contemporary jewellery, and attention should be
paid to collecting material produced by local silversmiths and jewellers registered under the
Art Connections scheme.
3.21
Maps, Guide Books and Local History Books
The map collection would be strengthened by the acquisition of early maps (pre 1850) and
20th and 21st century folding maps, eg those produced by Ordnance Survey or private
cartographers such as Bartholomew & Sons are relatively poorly represented - examples
should be sought. Geological maps from the 1900s are another area in which the collection
is poor.
Guide books to the district, the Yorkshire Dales, local attractions and cultural institutions
should be collected, ideally by donation but if necessary by purchase. Local history
publications, such as those produced by W.R.Mitchell should be actively collected.
3.22
Numismatics
The collection would be strengthened by further provenanced additions which fill an
identified gap. Items from the Craven Bank in particular should be actively sought. Actively
collecting examples of modern commemorative coins should continue. Due to the oftenunique nature of these non-military medals, they will continue to be acquired. There are
also a few examples of badges relating to local associations, guilds, etc. within the
collection. Further examples should be acquired. In addition to this collection, there are a
number of badges relating to military and civil service organisations. Further provenanced
examples should be actively collected.
3.23
Zoology
The collection would be strengthened by the acquisition of historical specimens. Local
specimens which have a known Craven connection, have full information and are in good
condition will be collected.
3.24
Botany
Passive collecting by local collectors to continue.
3.25
Geology
Future examples of minerals, fossils and palaeontological materials will only be collected
where they are of a Museum standard, and come with complete documentation.
The rock and fossil collections should be strengthened by acquiring examples showing the
use and exploitation of Craven’s natural resources, for example limestone. Specimens of
non-Craven material will not be acquired, but will be referred to any relevant institutions.
3.26
Ephemera
The Museum maintains an active policy of collection in close cooperation with North
Yorkshire County Records Service ensuring that items are deposited within the correct
facility. The Museum Service will actively collect posters, pamphlets, notices, sale
catalogues, adverts, invoices and packaging with a local connection. Company archives will
only be collected where they support artefacts either already held by the museum or as part
of a larger donation. Civic (including educational) records will not normally be collected but
exceptions will be made if either NY Records Office or the donor prefers the material to stay
in Craven. The Museum will not collect ration books, National Service cards or military
service records unless there is a strong personal story associated with such a donation.
3.27 Periods of time and/or geographical area to which collecting relates
3.27.1 The Collecting Area for the Museum Service will be the area defined as Craven District (see
map in Appendix One, page 16) but will also include the historic boundaries of West Craven
and the West Riding, including Barnoldswick, Earby and Addingham.
3.27.2 Items made in, at some point used within, or otherwise provenanced to the Museum
Service's Collecting Area, may be acquired, regardless of their location at the time of
acquisition. Where this involves the acquisition of items from a place within the
geographical sphere of influence of another Museum, a principle of open actions and good
communications will apply.
3.27.3 Where the Museum Service seeks to collect the works of 'local' artists, or to acquire 'local'
views, the area defined above will normally be used as the basis for decisions.
4. Themes and priorities for rationalisation and disposal
The Museum will only dispose of objects for curatorial reasons and will not undertake disposal
motivated principally by financial reasons. Disposal will be made by gift or sale and in accordance
the procedures outlined in Section 13 below. The Museums Association’s Code of Ethics for
Museums and Disposal Toolkit will be used to guide disposal.
Objects from the collections will be considered for disposal on a case by case basis under the
following criteria:
 Poor condition
 Duplicates exist
 Falls outside the Collections Development Policy
 Public benefit better served by transfer to another organisation
5. Limitations on collecting
The museum recognises its responsibility, in acquiring additions to its collections, to ensure that
care of collections, documentation arrangements and use of collections will meet the requirements
of the Accreditation Standard. It will take into account limitations on collecting imposed by such
factors as staffing, storage and care of collection arrangements.
6. Collecting policies of other museums
The museum will take account of the collecting policies of other museums and other organisations
collecting in the same or related areas or subject fields. It will consult with these organisations
where conflicts of interest may arise or to define areas of specialism, in order to avoid
unnecessary duplication and waste of resources.
Specific reference is made to the following museum(s):
The Museum Service acknowledges that other Museums, both inside and from outside the
area, traditionally collect material from within this boundary.
The Museum Service will work with York Museums Trust, Bradford Museums Service and
the Dales Countryside Museum to ensure that material is preserved in the place most
appropriate, given the nature of the items and their provenance.
Whilst the Museum Service notes the existence of the following Museums: the Museum of
North Craven Life, the Upper Wharfedale Folk Museum and the Yorkshire Dales Lead
Mining Museum it retains the right to collect throughout the district, and will seek to acquire
a range of material representative of Craven.
7. Policy review procedure
7.1 The Collections Development policy will be published and reviewed from time to time,
at least once every five years. The date when the policy is next due for review is noted
above.
7.2 Arts Council England will be notified of any changes to the collections development policy, and
the implications of any such changes for the future of existing collections.
8. Acquisitions not covered by the policy
Acquisitions outside the current stated policy will only be made in very exceptional
circumstances, and then only after proper consideration by the governing body of
the museum itself, having regard to the interests of other museums.
9. Acquisition procedures
a. The museum will exercise due diligence and make every effort not to acquire,
whether by purchase, gift, bequest or exchange, any object or specimen unless the
governing body or responsible officer is satisfied that the museum can acquire a
valid title to the item in question.
b. In particular, the museum will not acquire any object or specimen unless it is
satisfied that the object or specimen has not been acquired in, or exported from, its
country of origin (or any intermediate country in which it may have been legally
owned) in violation of that country’s laws. (For the purposes of this paragraph
‘country of origin’ includes the United Kingdom).
c. In accordance with the provisions of the UNESCO 1970 Convention on the Means of
Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of
Cultural Property, which the UK ratified with effect from November 1 2002, and the
Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Act 2003, the museum will reject any items
that have been illicitly traded. The governing body will be guided by the national
guidance on the responsible acquisition of cultural property issued by the
Department for Culture, Media and Sport in 2005.
d. So far as biological and geological material is concerned, the museum will not
acquire by any direct or indirect means any specimen that has been collected, sold
or otherwise transferred in contravention of any national or international wildlife
protection or natural history conservation law or treaty of the United Kingdom or any
other country, except with the express consent of an appropriate outside authority.
e. The museum will not acquire archaeological antiquities (including excavated
ceramics) in any case where the governing body or responsible officer has any
suspicion that the circumstances of their recovery involved a failure to follow the
appropriate legal procedures. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the
procedures include reporting finds to the landowner or occupier of the land and to
the proper authorities in the case of possible treasure as defined by the Treasure Act
1996.
f. Any exceptions to the above clauses 9a, 9b, 9c, or 9e will only be because the
museum is:

acting as an externally approved repository of last resort for material of local (UK)
origin

acquiring an item of minor importance that lacks secure ownership history but in the
best judgement of experts in the field concerned has not been illicitly traded

acting with the permission of authorities with the requisite jurisdiction in the country
of origin

in possession of reliable documentary evidence that the item was exported from its
country of origin before 1970
In these cases the museum will be open and transparent in the way it makes decisions
and will act only with the express consent of an appropriate outside authority.
g. As the museum holds or intends to acquire human remains from any period, it will follow
the procedures in the ‘Guidance for the care of human remains in museums’ issued by
DCMS in 2005.
10. Spoliation
The museum will use the statement of principles ‘Spoliation of Works of Art during the Nazi,
Holocaust and World War II period’, issued for non-national museums in 1999 by the Museums
and Galleries Commission.
11. The Repatriation and Restitution of objects and human remains
The museum’s governing body, acting on the advice of the museum’s professional staff, if any,
may take a decision to return human remains (unless covered by the ‘Guidance for the care of
human remains in museums’ issued by DCMS in 2005) , objects or specimens to a country or
people of origin. The museum will take such decisions on a case by case basis; within its legal
position and taking into account all ethical implications and available guidance. This will mean that
the procedures described in 13a-13d, 13g and 13s below will be followed but the remaining
procedures are not appropriate.
The disposal of human remains from museums in England, Northern Ireland and Wales will follow
the procedures in the ‘Guidance for the care of human remains in museums’.
12. Management of archives
As the museum holds and intends to acquire archives, including photographs and printed
ephemera, its governing body will be guided by the Code of Practice on Archives for Museums
and Galleries in the United Kingdom (third edition, 2002).
13. Respecting the collection remits of other museums
When an object is offered to museum as a donation, it should be ensured that the item would not
be better suited to another heritage provision within Craven, as identified in Section 5 of the
Forward Plan.
14. Disposal procedures
Disposal preliminaries
a. The governing body will ensure that the disposal process is carried out openly and
with transparency.
b. By definition, the museum has a long-term purpose and holds collections in trust for
society in relation to its stated objectives. The governing body therefore accepts the
principle that sound curatorial reasons for disposal must be established before
consideration is given to the disposal of any items in the museum’s collection.
c. The museum will confirm that it is legally free to dispose of an item and agreements
on disposal made with donors will be taken into account.
d. When disposal of a museum object is being considered, the museum will establish if
it was acquired with the aid of an external funding organisation. In such cases, any
conditions attached to the original grant will be followed. This may include repayment
of the original grant and a proportion of the proceeds if the item is disposed of by
sale.
Motivation for disposal and method of disposal
e. When disposal is motivated by curatorial reasons the procedures outlined in
paragraphs 13g-13s will be followed and the method of disposal may be by gift, sale
or exchange.
f. The museum will not undertake disposal motivated principally by financial reasons
The disposal decision-making process
g Whether the disposal is motivated either by curatorial or financial reasons, the
decision to dispose of material from the collections will be taken by the governing
body only after full consideration of the reasons for disposal. Other factors including
the public benefit, the implications for the museum’s collections and collections held
by museums and other organisations collecting the same material or in related fields
will be considered. External expert advice will be obtained and the views of
stakeholders such as donors, researchers, local and source communities and others
served by the museum will also be sought.
Responsibility for disposal decision-making
h A decision to dispose of a specimen or object, whether by gift, exchange, sale
or destruction (in the case of an item too badly damaged or deteriorated to be
of any use for the purposes of the collections or for reasons of health and
safety), will be the responsibility of the governing body of the museum acting
on the advice of professional curatorial staff, if any, and not of the curator of
the collection acting alone.
Use of proceeds of sale
i Any monies received by the museum governing body from the disposal of items will
be applied for the benefit of the collections. This normally means the purchase of
further acquisitions. In exceptional cases, improvements relating to the care of
collections in order to meet or exceed Accreditation requirements relating to the risk
of damage to and deterioration of the collections may be justifiable. Any monies
received in compensation for the damage, loss or destruction of items will be applied
in the same way. Advice on those cases where the monies are intended to be used
for the care of collections will be sought from the Arts Council England
j The proceeds of a sale will be ring-fenced so it can be demonstrated that they are
spent in a manner compatible with the requirements of the Accreditation standard.
Disposal by gift or sale
k. Once a decision to dispose of material in the collection has been taken, priority will
be given to retaining it within the public domain, unless it is to be destroyed. It will
therefore be offered in the first instance, by gift or sale, directly to other Accredited
Museums likely to be interested in its acquisition.
l.
If the material is not acquired by any Accredited Museums to which it was offered
directly as a gift or for sale, then the museum community at large will be advised of
the intention to dispose of the material, normally through an announcement in the
Museums Association’s Museums Journal, and in other specialist journals where
appropriate.
m. The announcement relating to gift or sale will indicate the number and nature of
specimens or objects involved, and the basis on which the material will be
transferred to another institution. Preference will be given to expressions of interest
from other Accredited Museums. A period of at least two months will be allowed for
an interest in acquiring the material to be expressed. At the end of this period, if no
expressions of interest have been received, the museum may consider disposing of
the material to other interested individuals and organisations giving priority to
organisations in the public domain.
Disposal by exchange
n. The nature of disposal by exchange means that the museum will not necessarily be in a
position to exchange the material with another Accredited museum. The governing body
will therefore ensure that issues relating to accountability and impartiality are carefully
considered to avoid undue influence on its decision-making process.
o. In cases where the governing body wishes for sound curatorial reasons to exchange
material directly with Accredited or unaccredited museums, with other organisations or
with individuals, the procedures in paragraphs 13a-13d and 13g-13h will be followed as
will the procedures in paragraphs 13p-13s.
p. If the exchange is proposed to be made with a specific Accredited museum, other
Accredited museums which collect in the same or related areas will be directly notified
of the proposal and their comments will be requested.
q. If the exchange is proposed with a non-accredited museum, with another type of
organisation or with an individual, the museum will make an announcement in the
Museums Journal and in other specialist journals where appropriate.
r. Both the notification and announcement must provide information on the number and
nature of the specimens or objects involved both in the museum’s collection and those
intended to be acquired in exchange. A period of at least two months must be allowed
for comments to be received. At the end of this period, the governing body must
consider the comments before a final decision on the exchange is made.
Documenting disposal
s. Full records will be kept of all decisions on disposals and the items involved and proper
arrangements made for the preservation and/or transfer, as appropriate, of the
documentation relating to the items concerned, including photographic records where
practicable in accordance with SPECTRUM Procedure on deaccession and disposal.