Museums Association ethics committee
The aim of the ethics committee is to create a culture in UK museums that embraces ethical practice so that people working in museums:
It prepares and publishes guidance on ethical matters, mainly in the form of ethical guidelines or toolkits. A large part of the committee's work is discussing key ethical issues that arise in the preparation of this guidance and commenting on drafts of publications. The committee also oversees work on the Museums Association's Code of Ethics.
The ethics committee is regularly asked to provide confidential advice on specific issues that arise in individual museums. The committee acts as a sounding board and critical friend to promote good ethical practice in the museum community.
Occasionally, in difficult cases, a substantial investigation needs to be undertaken and individual ethics committee members help with this if they have appropriate experience or expertise.
Members
Convenor
Nick Merriman
Nick is Director of the Manchester Museum. Previously he worked at University College London and the Museum of London. He is interested in access to museums and collections, and the legacy of Empire.
Melanie Horton
Melanie is a researcher at Manchester City Galleries and MIRIAD. Her work has included collections care, outreach, exhibitions and research. She is currently combining her art specialism and interest in communities to undertake Doctoral research at Manchester City Galleries.
John Jackson
John is science policy coordinator at the Natural History Museum. He works in both science and museum policy, strategic planning, quality management and ethics. He has a particular interest in ethics for natural history collections, corporate collaboration and cultural property.
Hedley Swain
Hedley is director of programme delivery at MLA with responsibility for the delivery of Renaissance, the Museum Accreditation Scheme and overseeing the Stories of the World programme for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. His background is in archaeology.
Jane Arthur
Jane is a museums and heritage Consultant. For the last 10 years she was head of collections and deputy director at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery, leading on capital projects in documentation and storage.
Richard de Peyer
Rachel Cockett
Judy Lindsay
Suzanne Lyle
- Recognise responsibility for practising and promoting ethical behaviour
- See ethics as a positive force, responsive to developing professional and public views, and underpinning change and improvement
- Regard an awareness and discussion of ethics as the norm, connecting all museums and playing a role in planning and decision making
It prepares and publishes guidance on ethical matters, mainly in the form of ethical guidelines or toolkits. A large part of the committee's work is discussing key ethical issues that arise in the preparation of this guidance and commenting on drafts of publications. The committee also oversees work on the Museums Association's Code of Ethics.
The ethics committee is regularly asked to provide confidential advice on specific issues that arise in individual museums. The committee acts as a sounding board and critical friend to promote good ethical practice in the museum community.
Occasionally, in difficult cases, a substantial investigation needs to be undertaken and individual ethics committee members help with this if they have appropriate experience or expertise.
Members
Convenor
Nick Merriman
Nick is Director of the Manchester Museum. Previously he worked at University College London and the Museum of London. He is interested in access to museums and collections, and the legacy of Empire.
Melanie Horton
Melanie is a researcher at Manchester City Galleries and MIRIAD. Her work has included collections care, outreach, exhibitions and research. She is currently combining her art specialism and interest in communities to undertake Doctoral research at Manchester City Galleries.
John Jackson
John is science policy coordinator at the Natural History Museum. He works in both science and museum policy, strategic planning, quality management and ethics. He has a particular interest in ethics for natural history collections, corporate collaboration and cultural property.
Hedley Swain
Hedley is director of programme delivery at MLA with responsibility for the delivery of Renaissance, the Museum Accreditation Scheme and overseeing the Stories of the World programme for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. His background is in archaeology.
Jane Arthur
Jane is a museums and heritage Consultant. For the last 10 years she was head of collections and deputy director at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery, leading on capital projects in documentation and storage.
Richard de Peyer
Rachel Cockett
Judy Lindsay
Suzanne Lyle
