Ethical debate: Loans
At a recent Elton John Aids Foundation fundraising event in South Africa a number of significant works of art by Gainsborough, Van Dyck and other artists were loaned by a museum and hung on the walls of the marquee to create a 'stately home' feel.
Although recent reports such as Collections for the Future have called for more creative ways to increase access is this appropriate?
The Elton John Aids Foundation raises millions of pounds each year for HIV and Aids projects. It would be difficult not to want to help its fundraising while raising the profile of the museum's collection among a group perhaps not used to museum-going.
In negotiating the loan it would be crucial to make sure that every aspect of security and environmental control was met. (It is assumed that the museum as an alternative venue, if a suitable space could be offered, is not appropriate.)
The exact location for the paintings would have to be vetted, the way they are hung and shown - you would not hold a dinner even for VIPs in a gallery where food and drink touching the paintings was a risk.
The organisers would meet all costs, and while a museum may be strapped for cash, the board may feel that it would be good to waive any facility fee in order to get some publicity and raise the profile of its collection. To increase the appreciation of the art and to avoid it merely being upmarket decoration, it would be good to make available text and illustrations relating to the works, perhaps in the souvenir brochure.
This was the case at this particular event, which raised significant funds for the charity.
Alan Swerdlow, outgoing member of the Museums Association's Ethics Committee
Collections for the Future considers whether museums can offer more opportunities for people to enjoy their collections by displaying them in nontraditional venues.
The report notes the danger of the objects becoming mere wallpaper. It sounds as if this might have happened here.
But plenty of objects displayed in museums are by-passed by a majority of visitors without a second glance.
The danger that objects will not be properly appreciated is no reason not to make these kind of loans, assuming that risks are properly managed. It is museums' responsibility to get more collections out of storage.
But the section of the report on this issue concludes, 'It is museums' responsibility to open up collections as part of the public realm.' The key word here is 'public'. It is only acceptable to loan objects to private functions like this if the general public's opportunities to see them are not compromised.
Museums and their collections are for everyone, not just for an elite few who are attending a fundraising event, however worthy the cause.
Helen Wilkinson, policy officer, Museums Association
Although recent reports such as Collections for the Future have called for more creative ways to increase access is this appropriate?
The Elton John Aids Foundation raises millions of pounds each year for HIV and Aids projects. It would be difficult not to want to help its fundraising while raising the profile of the museum's collection among a group perhaps not used to museum-going.
In negotiating the loan it would be crucial to make sure that every aspect of security and environmental control was met. (It is assumed that the museum as an alternative venue, if a suitable space could be offered, is not appropriate.)
The exact location for the paintings would have to be vetted, the way they are hung and shown - you would not hold a dinner even for VIPs in a gallery where food and drink touching the paintings was a risk.
The organisers would meet all costs, and while a museum may be strapped for cash, the board may feel that it would be good to waive any facility fee in order to get some publicity and raise the profile of its collection. To increase the appreciation of the art and to avoid it merely being upmarket decoration, it would be good to make available text and illustrations relating to the works, perhaps in the souvenir brochure.
This was the case at this particular event, which raised significant funds for the charity.
Alan Swerdlow, outgoing member of the Museums Association's Ethics Committee
Collections for the Future considers whether museums can offer more opportunities for people to enjoy their collections by displaying them in nontraditional venues.
The report notes the danger of the objects becoming mere wallpaper. It sounds as if this might have happened here.
But plenty of objects displayed in museums are by-passed by a majority of visitors without a second glance.
The danger that objects will not be properly appreciated is no reason not to make these kind of loans, assuming that risks are properly managed. It is museums' responsibility to get more collections out of storage.
But the section of the report on this issue concludes, 'It is museums' responsibility to open up collections as part of the public realm.' The key word here is 'public'. It is only acceptable to loan objects to private functions like this if the general public's opportunities to see them are not compromised.
Museums and their collections are for everyone, not just for an elite few who are attending a fundraising event, however worthy the cause.
Helen Wilkinson, policy officer, Museums Association
