Museums Association
Effective Collections Stored Collection Reviewer Brief
Invitation to tender
The Museums Association (MA) is an independent membership organisation
representing museums and galleries in the UK and people who work for them. The
Association has over 5,000 individual members and 600 institutional members.
These institutional members encompass around 1500 museums in the UK ranging
from the largest government-funded national museums to small volunteer-run
charitable trust museums. Formed in 1889, it is a charity, receiving no regular
government funding, which seeks to inform, represent and develop museums and
people who work for them in order that they may provide a better service to society
and the public.
In 2005, the MA published Collections for the Future, a report from a major inquiry
into collections and collecting in UK museums. The report argued that too many
museum collections are underused – not displayed, published, used for research or
even understood by the institutions that care for them. The Effective Collections
programme of work, supported by a grant of just over £1m from the Esmée Fairbairn
Foundation, is beginning to address this problem.
The programme consists of two strands of work: one aimed at enabling long loans
between museums and one aimed at encouraging museums to take a more active
approach to disposals. It is part way through a two-year pilot phase (running from
autumn 2006) trialling long loan processes before the full phase launches in 2008
with a further three years of funding.
A key part of the pilot projects is to trial reviews of stored collections to identify
underused objects, and to recommending them for long loan (3-5 year, potentially
renewable agreements), or even permanent transfer. Over the course of Effective
Collections, reviewers will work with a range of museums and collections. However,
this pilot project is to review the Islamic ceramic collection at National Museums
Liverpool
The MA is inviting applications from individuals to undertake a review of the Islamic
ceramic and metal collection at National Museums Liverpool (NML) to enable
increased future use of the material through long loan or exhibition.
Background of the collection:
National Museums Liverpool’s collection from the Islamic world is considered to be of
national importance, however the ceramics collection (numbering approximately 350
objects) has received little consideration and has not been thoroughly researched or
displayed for many years. The collection has come from a variety of sources
including donations by private collectors and purchases from major museums in the
Islamic world. Significant acquisitions came in the early 20th century notably in 1919,
1949 and 1951 the later donations possibly came about in response to the
devastating fire that destroyed Liverpool Museum during the Blitz of 1941. However
the collection is not the work of one individual and is therefore diverse in its contents.
The collection is currently stored in the organisation’s off-site store in North Liverpool
and none of the items are on display.
The collection includes:

Pottery Sherds: over 70 pieces collected during archaeological digs in the
important Egyptian trading port of Fostat.

Modern examples: A small number of tourist pieces and two interesting
groups of terracottas including early 20th century Assuit ware from Egypt and three
large vessels created by a female Christian potter in Ramallah.

Lustre and Faience tiles: A group of tiles, some mounted, from Iran and
Turkey.

Vessel: A selection of vessels from a variety of countries including Turkey,
Iran and Syria
Please note documentation on the collection is still underway. The above details are
subject to change.
Documentation of the collection:
The ceramics collection is currently being unpacked and documented creating basic
‘core’ records for the collection on NML’s computerised database MIMSY. There are
also record cards for individual items and in some cases there are history files with
information relating to the donor and the acquisition of the object. Any reviewer would
therefore not be required to document the collection, but would give an assessment
on the level of documentation required for the collection to be useful. Also advise on
the technical terminology used in the documentation.
Outcomes
1.
To long lend for display 10 or more objects from the collection to publicly
accessible locations.
2.
To make the collection more accessible for future use.
3.
Raise awareness of the collection within the profession and to stakeholders.
4.
Improve professional knowledge of subject area and resources available.
5.
Build knowledge of significance of the collection in relation to North-West and
national museum context.
6.
Support NML’s strategic collections development plan.
Stored Collection Reviewer activities
1.
Assess current items in the collection and reveal strengths and weaknesses
of the subject area.
2.
Review the potential of the collection for display.
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).
6.
Review terminology of documentation and advise on the correct use.
Stored Collection Reviewer person specification
1.
An understanding of and experience of working with Islamic collections, with
specialist expertise in accordance with point 2 of the reviewer activities
above.
2.
Knowledge of Islamic ceramic collections in the UK, and particularly the
North-West.
3.
4.
5.
Knowledge of specialist groups and educational institutions interested in
Islamic collections in the UK, and particularly the North-West.
Experience caring for ceramic collections, considering their storage, handling
and display requirements.
Enthusiasm for Islamic collections and their wider use.
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). An additional two days is available with further
negotiation, dependent upon the proportion of the collection that the reviewer has the
expertise to include. This will include all expenses apart from travel, to be agreed
separately.
The review is expected to take place between April and June 2008 at a time agreed
between the curator and NML 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 NML;
b) display at alternative museum and non-museum locations;
c) use in other ways, perhaps by specialist groups.
4.
Suggest where to lend objects to, where possible.
5.
Strengths and weaknesses of current storage and collections care,
recommending improvements where appropriate.
6.
Advise on correct use of terminology.
Applications
Applications to undertake the stored collection review at National Museums Liverpool
should be received by 11 April 2008. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by 25
April 2008.
Please send a covering letter addressing the person specification above and a CV to
Sally Cross at sally@museumsassociation.org or Museums Association, 24 Calvin
Street, London E1 6NW. For an informal conversation about the reviewer role contact
Sally on 020 7426 6933.