Wedgwood Museum may lose UNESCO listing
Patrick Steel, 08.02.2012
Status will be reviewed if collection dispersed
David Dawson, the chair of the Memory of the World Working Group, which administers the UK Memory of the World Register, told Museums Journal that if the Wedgwood collection were dispersed it might not remain on the register.
"If the collection were broken up we would have to review its status, and its status as a designated collection would also be reviewed," said Dawson.
"I recognise that this is an issue for the pension holders, but it would be a loss to the tourism industry of Stoke and visitors to Stoke.
"A short term gain for the pension holders would be a long term blow for the people of Stoke. The nation cannot afford the loss of this piece of its heritage."
The Wedgwood collection is currently one of only 20 collections to be inscribed to the UK Memory of the World Register, a list of documentary heritage which holds cultural significance specific to the UK.
The attorney general is currently deliberating whether the Wedgwood Museum would be allowed to appeal a high court judgment that the collections could be sold to fund a £134m pensions deficit, but if the appeal is not granted, the collections are at risk of being broken up and sold.
The attorney general’s decision is expected this month.
"If the collection were broken up we would have to review its status, and its status as a designated collection would also be reviewed," said Dawson.
"I recognise that this is an issue for the pension holders, but it would be a loss to the tourism industry of Stoke and visitors to Stoke.
"A short term gain for the pension holders would be a long term blow for the people of Stoke. The nation cannot afford the loss of this piece of its heritage."
The Wedgwood collection is currently one of only 20 collections to be inscribed to the UK Memory of the World Register, a list of documentary heritage which holds cultural significance specific to the UK.
The attorney general is currently deliberating whether the Wedgwood Museum would be allowed to appeal a high court judgment that the collections could be sold to fund a £134m pensions deficit, but if the appeal is not granted, the collections are at risk of being broken up and sold.
The attorney general’s decision is expected this month.
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