Disposal Bootcamp: Putting it into Practice
Online, Zoom
Image: Science Museum Group staff assessing collections. ©Science Museum Group
A year after the Museums Association launched Off the Shelf: a toolkit for ethical transfer, reuse and disposal, this one-day conference digs deeper into the issues surrounding collection rationalisations – and offers practical advice on how museums can go through the process of disposal.
Delegates will hear a range of case studies demonstrating different approaches to disposal. The day includes a look at different collections, including archaeological objects, as well as related activities such as disposal within communities.
Delegates also have the opportunity to take part in discussions around language, ethics and the future for our collections.
Programme highlights:
- A range of practical case studies highlighting different approaches and learning from different stages of the process
- An interactive workshop on how to advocate for this work with colleagues, senior leaders, trustees, funders and other stakeholders
- An opportunity to ask your disposal questions to sector support bodies and museums who are doing the work
We aim to present a diverse range of speakers from across the UK and internationally at our one-day conferences. If you are interested in speaking at one of our events, or have a project you’d like to see explored, please tell us more by emailing the Events Team.
Programme
Welcome from the chair
Sally Colvin, Programmes Manager, Museums Association, opens the event and introduces some of the themes of the day.
Speakers:
Case Study: Taking Stock at Manchester Art Gallery
Taking Stock at Manchester Art Gallery’s is a funded project to review and research four collections during a period of building repairs on its storage facilities. Inbal Livne, Senior Creative Lead and Phillippa Milner, Collections Manager, share how a framework has been developed to carry out this work including plans to rehome and repurpose material. They will discuss the importance of transparency, community engagement and finding ways of working.
Q&A with Manchester Art Gallery
Inbal Livne and Phillippa Milner will take your questions.
Comfort break
A 10 minute comfort break.
Case Study: The Peterborough Archaeological Archive Enhancement Project
The Peterborough Archaeological Archive Enhancement Project aims to secure the sustainability of the archaeological collections at Peterborough Museum, while supporting curatorial work to widen accessibility and outreach activities. Heritage Consultant Sam Paul shares practical lessons from the rationalisation and improved storage and documentation project.
Q&A with Sam Paul
A chance to ask your questions.
Lunch
An hour lunch break.
Advocating for disposal
Deaccessioning is a crucial and everyday part of collections management. But how can you advocate for this work with staff and volunteers, stakeholders such as trustees or councillors and members of the press? India Divers, Policy Officer, Museums Association, leads this practical workshop designed to support you develop an advocacy plan.
Speakers:
Embedding disposal
Rainey Tisdale, US Museum Consultant, looks at some of the barriers that hold people and organisations from embracing disposal – and shares some changes and systems that could help museums embed this work in their everyday practice.
Speakers:
Troubleshooting: Your Disposal Questions
Our panel of experts discuss some of the most frequently asked questions around the disposal process. The session will include time for questions from attendees.
With:
Sarah Briggs, Disposal Lead, Museums Association
Jenny Durrant, Museum Consultant
Sarah Brown, Deputy Director, Collections Trust
Hannah Brignell, Senior Collections Services Project Manager, Science Museum Group
Speakers:
Chair summary and close
Sally Colvin, Programmes Manager, Museums Association, ends the event
Please note that this event will be recorded and available exclusively to delegates for three months. After that time, it will be made available to members on the Museums Association website.
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Event fees
Concessionary Member – £35
Member (Essential, Full, Institutional and Commercial members) – £45
Non-member – £65
Not a member? Join today and pay a discounted price for this event as well as receiving lots of other great benefits.
Inclusive event places
The Benevolent Fund will provide five free places to this event to individual members who face barriers due to ethnicity, disability, socio-economic background, and gender identity or sexual orientation (LGBTQ).
These free places are part of our wider work towards creating a more inclusive sector. We will also support any accessibility requests such as provision of British Sign Language (BSL), audio description or closed captioning. The deadline to apply for an Inclusive Place is 12 noon on 5 June 2024.
Important booking information
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If you create a new record with a different email address your membership will not be recognised and you will be charged the incorrect fee. You can check and change your email address before booking.
Competency Framework
How attending this event helps your professional development.
Our competency framework supports your professional development. It clearly shows different areas of competency and 4 levels within those areas, which you should be aiming to achieve throughout your work.
Our events relate to certain areas of the framework, and we recommend you look at the competency area to help you target your learning and create focus in the event. You may find that attending an event helps you attain the competencies for a higher level, which may contribute to your AMA or other professional development.
This event – Disposal Bootcamp: Putting it into Practice primarily relates to the Empowering Collections, Engaging Audiences and Communities and Leading and Change Making competency areas.