Brian Stewart, director, Falmouth Art Gallery
“Recessions are cyclical so by long-term planning we have acquired major works at bargain prices. A ‘landmark’ purchase sends a message of hope and intent to the community.
We have purchased a major Hemy painting (which was acquired at auction after the Lehman Brothers crash), the Art Fund’s Hugh Stoneman Archive and Naomi G. Weaver Gift, as well as work by Sargent, Gainsborough, and Francis Bacon.
We were supported by the MLA/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, the Art Fund and the Heritage Lottery Fund. But making redundancies while buying major acquisitions is not appropriate and the UK is dangerously moving towards a climate where museums may be forced to sell cheap and buy expensive.”
Hazel Edwards and Kylea Little, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
“A creative and approach to collecting means that the history collection at Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums continues to grow despite the financial climate. Staff are taking advantage of Ebay to source relevant acquisitions at bargain prices.
Most material, however, can be sourced for free via donations from the public or direct approaches to local businesses. The most recent free acquisitions include Tamiflu packaging and a pair of 3d glasses from a showing of Avatar.
The recession itself has become the subject of collecting, including material from a former local branch of Woolworths and a leaflet advertising a ‘credit crunch lunch’ of saveloy dip, chips and a coke for £1.99!”
Jason Semmens, assistant curator, Horsham Museum
“Our acquisitions budget has been substantially curtailed this next financial year, but we continue to rely on the generosity of local residents and those from further afield, maintaining a steady influx of donations.
One of our responses to the squeeze has been to work closer with our Friends, which has increased its membership and fundraising activities, generating funds that have been put to use purchasing new items for the museum.
Monies from the sale at auction of de-accessioned items have been reinvested in the collections with the acquisition of new objects and artworks. We have taken the view that cutbacks represent opportunities for more proactive approaches to acquisition.”
Matthew Constantine, senior manager, Bolton Museum and Archive Service
“Our continued collecting is about trying to retain a long-term strategy in the face of extreme short-to- medium term financial pressures.
We can justify making acquisitions by demonstrating how they contribute to the core aims of the council; whether developing the local economy or building community cohesion but this is what local authority museums should always have been doing.
Recent examples include work by a young local artist, material from Bolton’s Muslim community and a deposit of important ancient Egyptian textiles. The main challenge is that such smart collecting relies upon retaining informed and imaginative staff.”
