The Ethics of Disposal
The MA's position on disposal
The Museums Association leads thinking on disposal of museum collections.
We believe that museums need to ensure their collections are well managed, actively used and sustainable.
Our 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.
Although disposing of items is not without risk, there can be significant benefits if the process is well managed.
Better care and curation for an item or improving public access and use are just some of them.
A strong framework to support responsible disposal exists within the UK with ethical advice in the Museums Association Code of Ethics for Museums and from its ethics committee, supported by practical advice in the Disposal toolkit.
Links and downloads
Disposal Digest, a handy plain-language introduction to disposal
Disposal digest (pdf)
Our detailed position is set out in section 6 of our Code of Ethics, as revised in 2007.
Click here to see the MA's code of ethics
The Disposal Toolkit will answer many of your disposal questions.
Disposal toolkit (pdf)
Selling collections can be more controversial and we’ve produced additional advice
Click here to read our advice on sale of collections
Contact
If you are unsure about a proposed disposal we urge you to contact us for confidential advice at an early stage, especially in difficult areas where practice is evolving, such as proposed sale of collections.
In the first instance please contact Charlotte Holmes, Museum Development Officer.
(e) charlotte@museumsassociation.org
(t) 020 7426 6955
We believe that museums need to ensure their collections are well managed, actively used and sustainable.
Our 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.
Although disposing of items is not without risk, there can be significant benefits if the process is well managed.
Better care and curation for an item or improving public access and use are just some of them.
A strong framework to support responsible disposal exists within the UK with ethical advice in the Museums Association Code of Ethics for Museums and from its ethics committee, supported by practical advice in the Disposal toolkit.
Links and downloads
Disposal Digest, a handy plain-language introduction to disposal
Disposal digest (pdf)
Our detailed position is set out in section 6 of our Code of Ethics, as revised in 2007.
Click here to see the MA's code of ethics
The Disposal Toolkit will answer many of your disposal questions.
Disposal toolkit (pdf)
Selling collections can be more controversial and we’ve produced additional advice
Click here to read our advice on sale of collections
Contact
If you are unsure about a proposed disposal we urge you to contact us for confidential advice at an early stage, especially in difficult areas where practice is evolving, such as proposed sale of collections.
In the first instance please contact Charlotte Holmes, Museum Development Officer.
(e) charlotte@museumsassociation.org
(t) 020 7426 6955
