MLA South East Sharing Collections Pilot Project in
Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Brief for a specialist Peer Reviewer
Invitation to Tender for Peer Review Contract
re: the lithics collection at Buckinghamshire County Museum
Renaissance South East, MLA South East, the Museums Association through
Effective Collections, which is supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
and Culture Milton Keynes jointly fund the Sharing Collections Pilot Project in
the BOB sub-region of MLA South East. The project aims to promote more
loan activity in the region, including long-term loans from national museums
into the region, build capacity for loans and temporary exhibitions through
training and grant aid and provide specialist peer reviewers to work with
stored collections.
A key part of the pilot project is to trial reviews of stored collections to
identify underused objects, and to recommend them, where possible for long
loans (3 – 5 years with the possibility of renewal) or permanent transfer.
When appropriate, recommendations for disposal of some objects may also
be an outcome of the review.
This tender invites individuals with appropriate experience to apply to
undertake a review of the lithics (flint and stone) collection at
Buckinghamshire County Museum, working with a member of their staff for a
period of up to five days during late Spring 2008.
Background to the Buckinghamshire County Museum
The Museum has collections covering the natural and human history for the
entire historic county of Buckinghamshire, including the present Milton
Keynes. Significant collections include art, archaeology, social history,
geology, biology, costume and textiles, studio ceramics and photographs.
Aside from the main public galleries in Aylesbury, the main museum stores
are located about 7 miles away at Halton. The stores are environmentally
monitored and controlled 24 hours with separate storage areas for each type
of collection’s distinctive needs.
Documentation is well advanced with a core database record for + 85% of
the collections which total + 120,000 objects and specimens.
See A Measure of Success, Appendix 2 (Southern Museums Agency, 2001)
for most up to date summary of collections numbers and assessment of
significance by DOMUS categories
Jane Bowen, Sharing Collections Advisor
Email: jsmbowen@gmail.com Mobile: 07887 928 645
Oak Barn, Sonning Eye, Reading, Oxon RG4 6TN
Background to the Lithics Collection
The collection consists of Palaeolithic, Mesolithic & Neolithic flint tools. Many
of these objects were acquired in the late 19th and early 20th century, from
antiquarian collections, and have never been properly identified. The
collection numbers approximately 500 items and includes specific and underresearched named collections, for example the Treacher and Rutland
Collections. The most significant geographical concentration is naturally the
Southern, Thames-side parishes.
Ownership of the Collection
Much of this early lithic material is on loan from the Bucks Archaeological
Society under the terms of a lease agreement, which runs until 2115. There is
therefore potential for researching and enhancing the acquisition and
provenance information through Records of Bucks, other local background
source material and the County HER.
Outcomes
1.
To make the collection more accessible for future use.
2.
To establish a number of long loans or permanent transfers of objects
from the collection to publicly accessible locations.
3.
Raise awareness of the collection and resources available.
4.
Support Buckinghamshire County Museum’s collecting policy.
Stored Collection Reviewer activities
1.
Assess current items in the collection and reveal strengths and
weaknesses of the subject area. Including identifying items that would
be better transferred elsewhere.
2.
Review the potential of the collection for display and use in their
education programmes.
3.
Advise on potential objects for loan.
4.
Advise on non-museum organisations or educational opportunities
where collection might be of use.
5.
Assess current collections care for these items (storage, health &
safety issues, pests).
Stored Collection Reviewer person specification
1.
An understanding and experience of working with archaeology and
especially lithics collections.
2.
Knowledge of similar collections in the UK.
3.
Experience of caring for archaeology collections and considering their
storage, handling and display requirements.
4.
Enthusiasm for lithics collections and their wider use.
Jane Bowen, Sharing Collections Advisor
Email: jsmbowen@gmail.com Mobile: 07887 928 645
Oak Barn, Sonning Eye, Reading, Oxon RG4 6TN
Timescale and fees
The stored collections reviewer will be contracted at a daily rate of
£200, with the work expected to take five days (3-4 days at the
museum and 1-2 days for additional research and report
production). This will include all expenses apart from travel, to be
agreed separately.
The review is expected to take place between March and June 2008 at a time
agreed between the curator and the appointed reviewer.
Reporting
The stored collection reviewer is required to provide a concise report covering
the following areas:
1.
Specific objects or groups of objects that are strengths of the collection
for:
a) local relevance;
b) national relevance;
c) subject specialism.
2.
Objects or groups of objects that do not have local, national or subject
specialist relevance. For example, samples of poor quality or not to
museum standard for another reason.
3.
Recommendations based on the above two criteria about uses of the
collections for:
a) display at Buckinghamshire County Museum;
b) display at alternative museum or non-museum locations;
c) use in other ways, perhaps by specialist groups.
4.
Suggest where to lend or transfer objects to, where possible.
5.
Strengths and weaknesses of current storage and collections care,
recommending improvements where appropriate.
6.
Suggest disposal if appropriate.
Applications
Applications to undertake the stored collection review at the Buckinghamshire
County Museum store should be received by 7th January 2008. Short-listed
candidates will be contacted by 21st January 2007.
Please send a covering letter addressing the person specification above and a
CV to Jane Bowen at jsmbowen@gmail.com or Oak Barn, Sonning Eye,
Reading, RG4 6TN. For an informal conversation about the reviewer role
contact Jane on 07887928645.
Jane Bowen, Sharing Collections Advisor
Email: jsmbowen@gmail.com Mobile: 07887 928 645
Oak Barn, Sonning Eye, Reading, Oxon RG4 6TN