Ethics

6.0 Collections are a tangible link between the past, present and future. Museums balance the interests of different generations by safeguarding collections, which may include buildings and sites.

Museums develop and implement a collections policy in order to ensure appropriate standards of care and security for all items entrusted to them, either permanently or on loan.

Museums meet their responsibility to future generations by ensuring that collections are well managed and sustainable. There is a strong presumption in favour of the retention of items within the public domain.

Sometimes transfer within the public domain, or another form of disposal, can improve access to, or the use, care or context of, items or collections. Responsible, curatorially motivated disposal takes place as part of a museum’s long-term collections policy, in order to increase public benefit derived from museum collections.

All those who work for or govern museums should ensure that they:

6.1 Act as guardians of the long-term public interest in the collections.

6.2 Publish, implement and regularly review a forward-looking collections management policy, approved by the governing body, which specifies standards of care. Define, in the collections management policy, levels of care appropriate for different parts of the collection, acceptable levels of risk and how items will be made accessible.

6.3 Protect all items from loss, damage and physical deterioration, wherever they are. Maintain appropriate standards of protection against hazards such as theft, fire, flood, vandalism and deterioration of the collections resulting from adverse environmental conditions.

Specify the action to be taken in the event of disasters threatening the museum’s buildings, staff, visitors, records or collections.

Make every effort to protect the collections in the event of a disaster but never put people’s lives at risk.

6.4 Balance the duty of maintaining and enhancing collections for future generations with that of providing appropriate services to today’s public. Reconcile security and conservation requirements with users’ rights of access and the desirability of lending outside the museum.

6.5 Pay due regard to safeguarding collections and the public’s right of access whenever museum premises are used for functions.

6.6 Make provision for safeguarding collections whenever buildings housing them are closed or isolated, whether this is planned or unexpected.

6.7 Make arrangements to care properly for the health and wellbeing of any live animals for which the museum is responsible.

6.8 Recognise that formal title to and guardianship of the collections is vested in the governing body, which must satisfy itself that decisions to dispose are informed by the highest standards of expertise and take into account all legal and other attendant circumstances.

6.9 Demonstrate clearly how the long-term local and general public interest is served in circumstances in which disposal may be appropriate and ensure that public trust in museums is upheld.

6.10 Give priority to transferring items, preferably by gift to registered or accredited museums. Consider donating items to other public institutions if it is not possible for another museum to accept them. To maintain public confidence in museums wherever possible do not transfer items out of the public domain.

(This paragraph excludes material that is being disposed of because it is damaged beyond use, or dangerous, or is being returned to its place of origin or rightful owner.)

6.11 Base decisions to dispose on clear, published criteria as part of the institution’s long-term collections policy, approved by the governing body. Ensure transparency and carry out any disposal openly, according to unambiguous, generally accepted procedures. Manage the process with care and sensitivity to public perceptions.

6.12 Seek the views of stakeholders (such as donors, researchers, local and source communities and others served by the museum) who have a vested interest in a proposed disposal. In some cases consent from the donor may be a legal requirement. Where appropriate seek the views of colleagues and sector bodies.

6.13 Refuse to undertake disposal principally for financial reasons, except in exceptional circumstances as defined in 6.14.

Financially motivated disposal risks damaging public confidence in museums and the principle that collections should not normally be regarded as financially negotiable assets.

6.14 Consider financially motivated disposal only in exceptional circumstances and when it can be demonstrated that:

• It will significantly improve the long-term public benefit derived from the remaining collection

• It is not to generate short-term revenue (for example to meet a budget deficit)

• It is as a last resort after other sources of funding have been thoroughly explored

• Extensive prior consultation with sector bodies has been undertaken

• The item under consideration lies outside the museum’s established core collection as defined in the collections policy.

6.15 Ring-fence any money raised as a result of disposal through sale, if this exceptional circumstance arises, solely and directly for the benefit of the museum’s collection. Money raised must be restricted to the long-term sustainability, use and development of the collection. If in doubt about the proposed use of such restricted funds consult sector bodies.

6.16 Openly communicate and document all disposals and the basis on which decisions to dispose were made.

6.17 Apply any money received in compensation for the loss, damage or destruction of objects in the collection solely and directly for the benefit of the museum’s collection.

6.18 Respond to requests for return of human remains, and other culturally sensitive material with understanding and respect for communities of origin.