Ed Vaizey

Vaizey enters disposal debate

Rebecca Atkinson, 19.11.2010
Culture minister responds to Museums Journal's question about selling collections
Ed Vaizey has said that museums should not shy away from disposal as a way of refreshing collections but added that museums being forced to sell collections in order to stay open would be a “terrible thing”.

The culture minister was responding to a question posed by Museums Journal's editor Sharon Heal, as part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Ask Ed Vaizey question and answer video blog (see video below).

Heal asked: “If it was a choice between closing a museum or selling a collection, what would you do?”




For Sharon Heal's question, skip forward to 2.35 minutes

Vaizey response acknowledged that selling collections is a “hugely emotional” issue.

He continued: “I personally do think that museums should look carefully at how they are using their collections. […] Refreshing them means acquiring new objects but it also means disposing of objects. The Museums Association is very robust on this and says disposals are important. And directors of national museums have come out as well and said it's important not to be precious about disposals.”

Poll

Should cash-strapped museums be allowed to sell from collections in order to stay open?



In reference to Heal’s question, Vaizey added: “I wouldn’t want to see museums faced with a dilemma between selling a core part of its collection in order to stay open. I think it would be a terrible thing.”

Ask Ed Vaizey a question via the DCMS website

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Anonymous (MA Member)
24.11.2010, 12:47
The whole situation, including the question and the answer, is appalling. Museums as institutions exist in order to preserve, research and display the historic and natural heritage of the country and humankind. It is not up to current curators, politicians, public or anybody else to sell the collections. It seems to me as a professional ignorance and irresponsibility if not a professional crime. And what about the Codex of Ethics?
Anonymous (MA Member)
22.11.2010, 09:31
I wonder what the actual answer to the question was though - it seems a bit ambiguous to me. Does he mean it would be a terrible thing to sell a collection; a terrible thing to have to sell a collection to save a museum; or a terrible thing to see collection selling as an acceptable part of museum life? I don't think his comment actually answers the question properly, but in true political style, leaves all possible avenues open to interpretation by all possible groups...