Ethical debate: Loans [2]
Although lending items to other institutions can seem like a labour intensive and uncertain process, should a museum’s ethical responsibility to share its collections extend to loans outside the sector?
Museums belong to everybody and exist to serve the public. They have a duty to share their collections, and are increasingly called on to do so in different ways. A central theme of the Museums Association's (MA) Collections for the Future report was engagement. It said that by lending beyond the museum sector ‘museums can extend the possibility of people encountering objects. It is museums’ responsibility to open up collections as part of the public realm’.
That said, the resources needed to administer loans cannot be ignored. To make increased loan activity a possibility, loans need to be easier. Effective Collections is an emerging programme from the MA, supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
It aims to increase use of collections through loans, and part of its work will be to make the practicalities of loans easier.
Effective Collections will work with partners across the sector to standardise loan forms and terminology in order to put lenders and borrowers on firmer ground. It will advocate collaboration in loan activity, for example to share training expertise.
Some areas will remain problematic, such as lending outside the sector. Infrastructure issues of security or environment, or of lending between institutions with differing priorities will still need to be overcome. The answer may come from those who already successfully lend beyond the confines of museums.
Sally Cross, collections coordinator, Museums Association
Yes, museums exist to share their collections with all stakeholders, which may include extending loans to outside the sector where this helps to meet demands for access and increases the profile of a museum.
The Royal Air Force Museum maintains an effective working relationship and facilitates loans to the aerospace industry and our sponsor body, the Royal Air Force (RAF). The RAF is a key stakeholder in the museum, so we have sought to ensure the collections are accessed by as many serving RAF personnel as possible and not just as part of traditional training visits to the museum. One way of doing this is through the loan of material to units, RAF offices and officers’ messes.
In most cases, material lent to the RAF is not on public display and while this material may be regarded as inaccessible to the public, during the loan period there is no reason why a request cannot be made for the return of an item. This approach to loans has ensured that the museum continues to serve the needs of all stakeholders and has led to the RAF having a greater understanding of the museum.
Kevin Ward, head of collections management, Royal Air Force Museum
Museums belong to everybody and exist to serve the public. They have a duty to share their collections, and are increasingly called on to do so in different ways. A central theme of the Museums Association's (MA) Collections for the Future report was engagement. It said that by lending beyond the museum sector ‘museums can extend the possibility of people encountering objects. It is museums’ responsibility to open up collections as part of the public realm’.
That said, the resources needed to administer loans cannot be ignored. To make increased loan activity a possibility, loans need to be easier. Effective Collections is an emerging programme from the MA, supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
It aims to increase use of collections through loans, and part of its work will be to make the practicalities of loans easier.
Effective Collections will work with partners across the sector to standardise loan forms and terminology in order to put lenders and borrowers on firmer ground. It will advocate collaboration in loan activity, for example to share training expertise.
Some areas will remain problematic, such as lending outside the sector. Infrastructure issues of security or environment, or of lending between institutions with differing priorities will still need to be overcome. The answer may come from those who already successfully lend beyond the confines of museums.
Sally Cross, collections coordinator, Museums Association
Yes, museums exist to share their collections with all stakeholders, which may include extending loans to outside the sector where this helps to meet demands for access and increases the profile of a museum.
The Royal Air Force Museum maintains an effective working relationship and facilitates loans to the aerospace industry and our sponsor body, the Royal Air Force (RAF). The RAF is a key stakeholder in the museum, so we have sought to ensure the collections are accessed by as many serving RAF personnel as possible and not just as part of traditional training visits to the museum. One way of doing this is through the loan of material to units, RAF offices and officers’ messes.
In most cases, material lent to the RAF is not on public display and while this material may be regarded as inaccessible to the public, during the loan period there is no reason why a request cannot be made for the return of an item. This approach to loans has ensured that the museum continues to serve the needs of all stakeholders and has led to the RAF having a greater understanding of the museum.
Kevin Ward, head of collections management, Royal Air Force Museum
