In the next few weeks, the Museums Association (MA) will launch a year-long collaborative research project into the current state of collections and their future use. There are several reasons why this work is timely, and lots of ways to get involved.
The MA has championed the use of collections since the publication of Collections for the Future in 2005. We’ve run Effective Collections, published the Disposal Toolkit and Smarter Loans, and reviewed the Code of Ethics. We also still run the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund (EFCF), offering nearly £1.2m each year to collections projects that make a difference.
The Museums Taskforce has highlighted collections as a key priority. Funding pressures have put a strain on back-of-house services and there has been a drain of expertise from the sector, which can undermine our ability to use our collections courageously and creatively. The Mendoza Review of museums in England and the Independent Review of Local Museums in Wales have also identified unresolved issues relating to the future of collections. As museums’ socially engaged practice becomes more sophisticated, we should remember the opportunities that our collections offer to engage people and develop our organisations.
The research will kick off at our Future of Collections event in March and there will be a chance to contribute online, through the EFCF Collections Fund Network Days and at MA members’ meetings. We look forward to hearing your views.
The MA has championed the use of collections since the publication of Collections for the Future in 2005. We’ve run Effective Collections, published the Disposal Toolkit and Smarter Loans, and reviewed the Code of Ethics. We also still run the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund (EFCF), offering nearly £1.2m each year to collections projects that make a difference.
The Museums Taskforce has highlighted collections as a key priority. Funding pressures have put a strain on back-of-house services and there has been a drain of expertise from the sector, which can undermine our ability to use our collections courageously and creatively. The Mendoza Review of museums in England and the Independent Review of Local Museums in Wales have also identified unresolved issues relating to the future of collections. As museums’ socially engaged practice becomes more sophisticated, we should remember the opportunities that our collections offer to engage people and develop our organisations.
The research will kick off at our Future of Collections event in March and there will be a chance to contribute online, through the EFCF Collections Fund Network Days and at MA members’ meetings. We look forward to hearing your views.
