Is it important for the public to engage with museum ethics? - Museums Association

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Is it important for the public to engage with museum ethics?

Vote in the poll and have your say
The Museums Association’s (MA) ongoing review of the code of ethics includes considering how to raise awareness of museum ethics with members of the public.

In a video setting out his vision for the MA, David Fleming, the association’s president and the director of National Museums Liverpool, said that the public has the right to understand what ethical codes are about.

“It’s a tricky job... to make sure the public understands the code of ethics for museums because it’s not necessarily the first thing they think of doing,” he said. “But the code of ethics for museums particularly needs to rely on the public’s expectation that museums are going to be honest in what they do, what they say, where they take money from and who they listen to.”

Sharon Heal, the director of the MA, speaking at a conference held by the Yorkshire and Humberside Federation of Museums and Art Galleries last week, said: “If the code of ethics is too deep for the public then maybe we’ve got the wrong ethics."

Ahead of two consultations about the new code of ethics, in Leeds and Cardiff, Museums Journal is holding a poll to find out whether you think is it important for the public to engage with museum ethics.

Vote in the poll and have your say in the comment box below.





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