Croydon museums could lose Accreditation
Sale proposals in breach of standards, warns ACE
Arts Council England (ACE) has warned that Croydon Museum and Heritage Service would lose its Accredited Museum status if the council sells part of its collection.
The warning comes in the arts council’s response to Croydon Council's consultation on a proposal to sell 24 items from its antique Chinese ceramics collection, bequeathed to Croydon by local businessman and collector Raymond Riesco.
Scott Furlong, director of acquisitions, exports, loans and collections at ACE, said: “The current proposals to sell items from the Riesco Collection do not meet the nationally agreed standards of museum practice which are required by the Accreditation Scheme.
“We would welcome a dialogue with Croydon Council and other stakeholders to discuss the proposed sale, and seek an approach that would retain access to these important objects for the people of Croydon, as intended by the original acquisition.”
In a letter sent today to Alison Cahill, Croydon’s head of culture and libraries, Furlong adds: “We also understand the current proposals do not meet Croydon Museum’s own acquisition and disposal policy.
“Furthermore, many lenders lend their works to museums on the basis of their Accredited status with its reassurance that the appropriate risks are being managed. We are concerned that loss of Accreditation would undermine the confidence of key lenders to the Museum of Croydon.”
The arts council’s response follows advice from the Museums Association (MA) that the proposals are also in breach of the MA’s code of ethics.
In a response to the council’s consultation, the MA states: “Sale of items from a museum collection, even when being undertaken to benefit the museum’s collection, should be a last resort, after other sources of funding have been thoroughly explored.
“Thorough investigation of other sources of funding is likely to include, as appropriate, the categories of: trusts and foundations, major public and lottery funders, private givers, commercial exploitation of the museum’s assets.”
A Croydon Council spokesman said: "We're still in the process of liaising with a number of stakeholders and are considering their feedback. Proposals are due to be considered by councillors later this month."
The council’s consultation ends on Friday.
The warning comes in the arts council’s response to Croydon Council's consultation on a proposal to sell 24 items from its antique Chinese ceramics collection, bequeathed to Croydon by local businessman and collector Raymond Riesco.
Scott Furlong, director of acquisitions, exports, loans and collections at ACE, said: “The current proposals to sell items from the Riesco Collection do not meet the nationally agreed standards of museum practice which are required by the Accreditation Scheme.
“We would welcome a dialogue with Croydon Council and other stakeholders to discuss the proposed sale, and seek an approach that would retain access to these important objects for the people of Croydon, as intended by the original acquisition.”
In a letter sent today to Alison Cahill, Croydon’s head of culture and libraries, Furlong adds: “We also understand the current proposals do not meet Croydon Museum’s own acquisition and disposal policy.
“Furthermore, many lenders lend their works to museums on the basis of their Accredited status with its reassurance that the appropriate risks are being managed. We are concerned that loss of Accreditation would undermine the confidence of key lenders to the Museum of Croydon.”
The arts council’s response follows advice from the Museums Association (MA) that the proposals are also in breach of the MA’s code of ethics.
In a response to the council’s consultation, the MA states: “Sale of items from a museum collection, even when being undertaken to benefit the museum’s collection, should be a last resort, after other sources of funding have been thoroughly explored.
“Thorough investigation of other sources of funding is likely to include, as appropriate, the categories of: trusts and foundations, major public and lottery funders, private givers, commercial exploitation of the museum’s assets.”
A Croydon Council spokesman said: "We're still in the process of liaising with a number of stakeholders and are considering their feedback. Proposals are due to be considered by councillors later this month."
The council’s consultation ends on Friday.