Published in Museums Journal, January 2010
The Museums Association (MA) is aware of three current cases of financially motivated disposal, and suspects that there may be others.
Maurice Davies, the MA’s head of policy and communications, said: “In addition to Bolton and Gloucester, there is also a third museum that has contacted the MA regarding financially motivated disposal. It may be that there are also other cases around that we don’t know about.”
Gloucester City Council has invited Christie’s auction house to value its collections, and has begun a review of its objects.
A spokeswoman for the council said: “There are a lot of things in storage that are not relevant to Gloucester and have seen better days. The council is looking to sell, but does not know what yet.
“It is such a delicate process that we are taking advice, and are in dialogue with the MA and the accreditation board. “We are proud of our accreditation and the last thing that we want to do is to lose that.”
The council is looking to raise £100,000 towards a new cafe and renovated education facilities at Gloucester City Museum, alongside disabled access at the Folk Museum. Davies stressed that the MA was keen to talk in confidence with any museum considering financially motivated disposal.
“They can come to us before they have particular items for advice on the process. To meet the requirements of the code of ethics, the process is the most important thing, so we are keen to advise at an early stage,” he said.
