Smarter Loans group finalises key loan principles
Geraldine Kendall, 05.05.2011
MA steering group agrees ethical principles to help museums lend and borrow more
The Museums Association's (MA) Smarter Loans steering group has agreed a set of key ethical principles for UK loans, following extensive consultation with the museum sector.
Smarter Loans was established as part of the Esmée Fairbairn-funded Effective Collections programme with the aim of encouraging more lending and borrowing between museums of all types and sizes.
The principles urge museums to share collections willingly, ensure effective communication between lender and borrower and balance security considerations with the desirability of sharing collections. They are available to read in full below.
The steering group will now consult with sector bodies, including the Arts Council England, the National Museum Directors' Conference and the Association of Independent Museums, to ensure organisations across the board sign up to the principles.
The group is also set to develop guidance notes that set out a decision-making framework which will help museums consider different aspects to be addressed in order for loans to go ahead.
A first draft of the guidance notes will be published on the MA website in September so that anyone with an interest or involvement in loans can offer feedback. People will also have a chance to share their views at an open meeting on 15 September in London; further details of this will be announced closer to the date.
Steering group consultant Caitlin Griffiths said: “We hope that this guidance will help museums to overcome some of the perceived barriers to loaning or borrowing material, and help organisations to work together to find solutions so that more material can get out of stores and on display in other sites.”
To download the key principles for UK loans, click here
For more details on the draft guidance notes, click here
Smarter Loans was established as part of the Esmée Fairbairn-funded Effective Collections programme with the aim of encouraging more lending and borrowing between museums of all types and sizes.
The principles urge museums to share collections willingly, ensure effective communication between lender and borrower and balance security considerations with the desirability of sharing collections. They are available to read in full below.
The steering group will now consult with sector bodies, including the Arts Council England, the National Museum Directors' Conference and the Association of Independent Museums, to ensure organisations across the board sign up to the principles.
The group is also set to develop guidance notes that set out a decision-making framework which will help museums consider different aspects to be addressed in order for loans to go ahead.
A first draft of the guidance notes will be published on the MA website in September so that anyone with an interest or involvement in loans can offer feedback. People will also have a chance to share their views at an open meeting on 15 September in London; further details of this will be announced closer to the date.
Steering group consultant Caitlin Griffiths said: “We hope that this guidance will help museums to overcome some of the perceived barriers to loaning or borrowing material, and help organisations to work together to find solutions so that more material can get out of stores and on display in other sites.”
To download the key principles for UK loans, click here
For more details on the draft guidance notes, click here
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