A policy to allow financially motivated disposals in "exceptional circumstances" is to be voted on at the Museums Association's (MA) annual general meeting in Glasgow on 22 October.
The previous code of ethics said that museums should "refuse to undertake disposal principally for financial reasons". But following consultation with its members, the MA has concluded that the public interest may be best served by limited financially-motivated sales.
Caitlin Griffiths, the head of professional issues at the MA, said: "We've done two rounds of consultation and had the input of a steering group and wider forum drawn from the sector. By taking the advice this has generated, I think the MA's position is a fair reflection of where the sector is at the moment."
The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) is also looking at the wording of its policy on disposal for its Museum Accreditation Scheme, which sets nationally agreed standards.
"We will take a good long look at this, as the MA has done," said Hedley Swain, the head of museum policy at the MLA. "We want to see that the wording is fit for purpose in terms of what is happening in the sector."
The Watts Gallery in Surrey is among those keenly awaiting the AGM vote. It can then decide whether to sell two paintings to raise money to conserve its core collection.
Simon Stephens
www.museumassociation.org/13864
The previous code of ethics said that museums should "refuse to undertake disposal principally for financial reasons". But following consultation with its members, the MA has concluded that the public interest may be best served by limited financially-motivated sales.
Caitlin Griffiths, the head of professional issues at the MA, said: "We've done two rounds of consultation and had the input of a steering group and wider forum drawn from the sector. By taking the advice this has generated, I think the MA's position is a fair reflection of where the sector is at the moment."
The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) is also looking at the wording of its policy on disposal for its Museum Accreditation Scheme, which sets nationally agreed standards.
"We will take a good long look at this, as the MA has done," said Hedley Swain, the head of museum policy at the MLA. "We want to see that the wording is fit for purpose in terms of what is happening in the sector."
The Watts Gallery in Surrey is among those keenly awaiting the AGM vote. It can then decide whether to sell two paintings to raise money to conserve its core collection.
Simon Stephens
www.museumassociation.org/13864
