There are a number of other museums agencies, organisations and networks which can help you with collecting issues and dedicated acquisition funding.
Guidelines on the ‘Ethics and Practicalities of Acquisition’ and ‘Buying in the Market’
http://www.museumsassociation.org/13505
are available from the Museums Association website. Produced by the MA Ethics Committee, they aim to help all who work for or govern museums to apply ethical principles when acquiring items for the permanent collection.
Acquisition on Collections Link
http://www.collectionslink.org.uk/manage_information/doc_acquisition
Created by MDA, Collections Link provides an extensive range of information and advice sheets on all aspects of collections management, including MLA factsheets on acquisition. You can telephone Collections Link for one-to-one advice: T: 0845 838 4000.
Collections Link also provides a direct link to the Cultural Property Advice website http://www.culturalpropertyadvice.gov.uk/public_collections/legislation
commissioned by MLA and funded by DCMS, to assist you with Due Diligence considerations when buying or selling art, antiques or antiquities.
The National Collecting Scheme Scotland is a good example of a strategic collecting initiative which has benefited a number of museum partners:
http://www.contempart.org.uk/National%20Collecting%20Scheme%20for%20Scotland.htm
Collections Network concerned with Collecting
Scottish Collections Managers Forum
A group of collections managers representing museums across Scotland met in January 2007 to discuss what benefits there might be in establishing formal communication links for peer support. The group unanimously decided to set up a Scottish Collections Managers e-mail listing in the first instance to begin sharing information and knowledge around core collections management activity.
The Group is keen to widen its membership to involve anyone with a responsibility for managing collections in Scotland’s museums. To find out more, or to add your name to the free e-mail discussion list, email Pam Kerr at National Museums Scotland.
E: [email protected]
MMiC:S - The Modern Materials in Collections: Scotland group,
launched November 2006, aims to support informed and confident decision making about modern materials in collections, identify key stewardship issues in caring for modern materials in museum/art collections and promote, encourage and advance the collecting of modern materials.
MMiC:S now has a blog and invites your comments and postings on relevant issues. This is intended to provoke discussion about the care and collecting of modern materials in museum collections and to highlight news, events and articles.
See http://mmics.wordpress.com
For information about the group, please contact MMiC:S Co-ordinator Emma Roodhouse at Falkirk Council Museums.
E: [email protected]
Urban Social History Contemporary Collecting Network
In association with the Social History Curators’ Group (SHCG), this group aims:
Further information and contact details are available on Collections Link at http://www.collectionslink.org.uk/find_a_network/subject_specialists/urban_social_history
Acquisition Funding
Many museums in Scotland have only a modest acquisition budget or no dedicated funds at all. It is therefore vital that all purchasing options are considered, and that the sector is open about its experiences and examples of good practice.
National Fund for Acquisitions
http://www.nms.ac.uk/nationalfundforacquisitions.aspx
Each year, around 150 objects are added to Scotland’s collections through funding from the National Fund for Acquisitions (NFA). Administered by NMS on behalf of the Scottish Executive, museums, galleries, libraries, archives and record offices all benefit from this funding. You can apply to the NFA for assistance with a purchase if you meet the fund guidelines.
Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF)
http://www.hlf.org.uk/English/InYourArea/Scotland/
The Heritage Lottery Fund programmes ‘Awards for All’ and ‘Your Heritage’ are available to museums and galleries for development purposes. To find out more, speak to an HLF Development Officer or see the website.
A new HLF programme, Collecting Cultures – is also now up and running. This will provide £3million to the UK museums sector to support acquisitions, curatorial skills, research and increased activities for the public. Applications for this one-off scheme will be handled under the normal HLF ‘Heritage Grants’ process with additional guidance provided to help applicants. Guidance notes are now available on HLF’s website (http://www.hlf.org.uk/English/MediaCentre/Archive/Collecting+Cultures.htm) and applications can be submitted until 1 November 2007. The grants available range from £50,000 to £200,000 and projects can run for up to five years. Decisions will be made in May 2008.
Art Fund
http://www.artfund.org/
The Art Fund is an independent charity that aims to save art for ‘everyone to enjoy’. Any Registered or Accredited UK public collection may apply, as often as needed, to the Fund for an acquisition grant. For further guidance and application forms see the website or contact the Grants Office if you are in any doubt about the eligibility of your institution, or the object you wish to acquire.
The Beecroft Bequest
http://www.museumsassociation.org/ma/8037&search=2.2#The%20Beecroft%20Bequest
Administered by the Museums Association, the Beecroft Bequest is distributed as grant-in-aid to UK art galleries and museums for the purchase of pictures and works of art (furniture and textiles can be considered) not later than the 18th century in date. For the conditions governing awards from the fund, see the MA website or contact Pamela Poynter at the MA. T: 020 7426 6914
E: [email protected]
