Key UK museum sector bodies have come together to express serious concern over the possibility of unethical sales from museum collections and the targeting of collections as a source of income.
A joint statement published by Arts Council England has been signed by nine organisations including Art Fund, Association of Independent Museums, Museums Association, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
It warns that unethical sales from museum collections “would erode the long-held and hard-won trust that the public have in museums and cause irreversible damage to the UK’s cultural inheritance.”
The Arts Council England statement outlines the ethical practice that museums should follow when they are considering disposing of collections they hold, and sets out the potential consequences for those who chose to ignore the guidance.
It is signed by Arts Council England, Art Fund, Association of Independent Museums, Federation of Museums & Galleries of Wales, Museums Association, Museums Galleries Scotland, National Lottery Heritage Fund, National Museum Directors’ Council, Northern Ireland Museums Council, and The National Archives.
It warns that those motivated to unethically sell collections for financial benefit could see a five-year exclusion from Accreditation by the Accreditation Committee and would lose membership of the Museums Association, and could suffer funding ineligibility, partnership terminations, and reputational damage.
Arts Council England reports unethical sale from collections would result in:
- The removal and minimum five-year exclusion from Museum Accreditation by the UK Accreditation Committee. Loss of Accreditation would impact on eligibility for funding from Arts Council England, Association of Independent Museums, Northern Ireland Museum Council, The Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales, Museums Galleries Scotland and Art Fund.
- The National Lottery Heritage Fund will consider the governing body’s track record of the stewardship of its heritage when considering any future applications.
- Being barred from membership of the Museums Association including not being able to apply for funding from the MA for the duration of its loss of membership.
- Loss of partnerships with members of the National Museum Directors’ Council who will not enter any further partnership activity with the museum, including object loans, and will reconsider any existing partnership arrangements.
- If the museum holds Archive Service Accreditation, this may be withdrawn and The National Archives will consider any archive service’s track record in the stewardship of its heritage when considering grant applications.
Emmie Kell, Director of Museums and Cultural Property at Arts Council England, said: “If collections start being treated as a financial reserve, then the model and purpose of museums is undermined.”
“Museums must take the long view – preserving access to the past for current and future generations. The operating context for museums is challenging, but sale from collections in the aim of financial sustainability is not the answer.”
David Gelsthorpe, Chair of Accreditation Panel at Arts Council England, added: “Our Museums and Galleries in the UK have some of the highest ethical standards in the world and make sure their collections are cared for and cherished for everyone. There is serious concern over the unethical sale of collections for financial benefit. The new guidance on the consequences of selling collections is more important than ever.”
The full statement is available here.
