Museum disposal
Changes to the code of ethics around disposal
The Museums Association conducted a two-year review of its ethical advice for museums on the disposal of items from their collections, in consultation with the sector and key stakeholders.
As a result of this work the MA has revised its ethical advice on disposal. Changes to the guiding principles on disposal in the MA's Code of Ethics were agreed at the MA's AGM on the 22 October 2007.
The changes that have been made reflect the need for museums to ensure their collections are well managed, actively used and sustainable.
The updated ethical advice on disposal allows for and encourages museums to take a more active approach to appropriate disposal, whilst ensuring safeguards are in place to protect collections and public trust in museums.
The changes have now come into effect and an updated printed version of the Code is now available. The Code of Ethics can be viewed online by clicking here, and pdf copies are available to download below in both English and Welsh.
The Disposal Toolkit
As part of the Effective Collections programme, the MA has developed a Disposal Toolkit, published in February 2008, to provide more practical guidance for museums considering disposal.
It provides detailed advice on the process of identifying appropriate candidate items for disposal, and ensuring that their removal from a museum collection is ethical.
The Disposal Toolkit is available to download below in both English and Welsh. A digest is also available as an introduction to the main stages in the disposal process.
Disposal and Collections Review training
In 2008 the MA provided free training in each UK nation and region in using the Disposal Toolkit, through the Effective Collections programme.
This half-day training is now available as a package (charged for) for small groups of 5-20 people through the MA events team.
Through the work on disposal, the MA has found that many museums struggle to engage with reviewing whole collections: partly on the basis of available time and resources, and partly for the complexity of planning the review.
Throughout 2010 the MA is offering training, free through Effective Collections, in planning and undertaking a collections review.
The half-day sessions will use recent case studies from reviews by University College London and from the Renaissance North West Collections Review Project.
For details of training sessions, search under Effective Collections here
Click here to read case studies of collections review and disposal
Downloads
Code of Ethics for Museums (2007)
Côd Moeseg ar gyfer Amgueddfeydd (Welsh version) (2007) (word)
Disposal Toolkit (2008) (pdf)
Pecyn Cymorth Gwaredu (Welsh language version) (2008) (pdf)
Disposal Digest (2008) (pdf)
The MA's review of the guiding principles on disposal incorporated extensive sector consultation and a piece of research into public attitudes to museum disposal. For further information about the consultations see links below.
Read more about the public attitude research
Read more about the consultations
The Museums Association remains committed to providing advice and guidance on disposal to the museum sector. If you have any questions about our recent work and the implications of the changes we have made, or would like some advice on disposal please get in touch: sally@museumsassociation.org.
For an overview of Effective Collections click here
As a result of this work the MA has revised its ethical advice on disposal. Changes to the guiding principles on disposal in the MA's Code of Ethics were agreed at the MA's AGM on the 22 October 2007.
The changes that have been made reflect the need for museums to ensure their collections are well managed, actively used and sustainable.
The updated ethical advice on disposal allows for and encourages museums to take a more active approach to appropriate disposal, whilst ensuring safeguards are in place to protect collections and public trust in museums.
The changes have now come into effect and an updated printed version of the Code is now available. The Code of Ethics can be viewed online by clicking here, and pdf copies are available to download below in both English and Welsh.
The Disposal Toolkit
As part of the Effective Collections programme, the MA has developed a Disposal Toolkit, published in February 2008, to provide more practical guidance for museums considering disposal.
It provides detailed advice on the process of identifying appropriate candidate items for disposal, and ensuring that their removal from a museum collection is ethical.
The Disposal Toolkit is available to download below in both English and Welsh. A digest is also available as an introduction to the main stages in the disposal process.
Disposal and Collections Review training
In 2008 the MA provided free training in each UK nation and region in using the Disposal Toolkit, through the Effective Collections programme.
This half-day training is now available as a package (charged for) for small groups of 5-20 people through the MA events team.
Through the work on disposal, the MA has found that many museums struggle to engage with reviewing whole collections: partly on the basis of available time and resources, and partly for the complexity of planning the review.
Throughout 2010 the MA is offering training, free through Effective Collections, in planning and undertaking a collections review.
The half-day sessions will use recent case studies from reviews by University College London and from the Renaissance North West Collections Review Project.
For details of training sessions, search under Effective Collections here
Click here to read case studies of collections review and disposal
Downloads
Code of Ethics for Museums (2007)
Côd Moeseg ar gyfer Amgueddfeydd (Welsh version) (2007) (word)
Disposal Toolkit (2008) (pdf)
Pecyn Cymorth Gwaredu (Welsh language version) (2008) (pdf)
Disposal Digest (2008) (pdf)
The MA's review of the guiding principles on disposal incorporated extensive sector consultation and a piece of research into public attitudes to museum disposal. For further information about the consultations see links below.
Read more about the public attitude research
Read more about the consultations
The Museums Association remains committed to providing advice and guidance on disposal to the museum sector. If you have any questions about our recent work and the implications of the changes we have made, or would like some advice on disposal please get in touch: sally@museumsassociation.org.
For an overview of Effective Collections click here
