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Report To: EXECUTIVE MEMBER for ADULT SERVICES Report to: EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR ADULT SERVICES Date: 28 OCTOBER 2009 Report of: DIRECTOR OF ADULT AND Report No: COMMUNITY SERVICES Contact Officer: Matthew Constantine Tele No: 2507 Senior Manager – Museum & Archive Collections Report Title: Revised Museum Acquisition & Disposal Policy This report does not contain information which warrants its consideration Non Confidential in the absence of the press or members of the public. Purpose: To review a revised and updated Acquisition and Disposal Policy for the museum collection. Recommendations: The Executive Member is asked to approve the revised and updated acquisition and disposal policy for the museum collection. Decision: Background Doc(s): MLA Accreditation Standard for Museums in the United Kingdom (2008 revision) Museum Association Code of Ethics Bolton Museum Collections Acquisition & Disposal Policy (appendix A) Signed: Leader / Executive Member Monitoring Officer Date: Page 1 of 33 SUMMARY OF REPORT : The purpose of the acquisition and disposal policy is to summarise the museum collections held by Bolton Council and to outline where further collecting might be considered. The policy also defines the circumstances under which disposal from the museum collections will be considered. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Page 2 of 33 1.0 BACKGROUND INFORMATION 1.1 To comply with the requirements of the Museum Accreditation Standards as laid out by the Museums, Libraries & Archives Council (MLA), Bolton Council is required to maintain a formal Acquisition and Disposal Policy for its museum collections and to review this at least every 5 years. 1.2 This policy is based upon a guide template laid out by the MLA in 2004. In April 2008 the MLA produced a revised policy template which reflected an amendment to the Museum Association code of ethics, on which Accreditation is closely based. The amendment concerned disposals from museum collections (see supporting notes). 1.3 The opportunity has also been taken to improve the descriptions of the museum collections and to bring tighter definition to the sections concerning future collecting. 2.0 PROPOSALS 2.1 It is proposed that Bolton Council adopt the revised museum collection acquisition and disposal policy in order to remain compliant with the requirements of the MLA Museum Accreditation Scheme. 3.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 3.1 Adoption of the policy will aid the Council in making informed decisions when considering the development of its museum collections, including judgements concerning possible future purchases and ongoing storage costs. 3.2 Failure to follow professional guidelines in dealing with acquisitions and disposals is likely to result in the loss of Accredited status for all three museum sites, with subsequent further penalties; including the inability to claim future grants for acquisitions or projects including HLF bids, and the stripping of Renaissance in the Regions Hub status with a resulting large reduction of grant revenue funding. 4.0 EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT (This needs to be attached to the report) N/A 5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY SCREENING N/A 6.0 HUMAN RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS N/A Page 3 of 33 7.0 COMMUNITY STRATEGY PRIORITIES/ADULT SERVICES OUTCOMES This policy ensures that the museum collections are well managed and developed to ensure that they continue to act as a rich and valued resource able to support the delivery of Council priorities. 8.0 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT N/A 9.0 RECOMMENDATIONS The Executive Member for Adult Services is asked to approve the revised and updated acquisition and disposal policy for the museum collections. Page 4 of 33 APPENDIX A: Revised Museum Collection Acquisition and Disposal Policy Bolton Council Museum Acquisition & Disposal Policy Statement of purpose: ‘We will use our collections and expertise to inspire and enlighten our users. This will be done by providing enjoyable museum experiences that reflect the stories and communities of Bolton and that contribute towards creating a strong and confident borough.’ Date on which this policy was approved by governing body: Date at which this policy is due for review: April 2011 Page 5 of 33 1. Introduction Bolton Library, Museum & Archive Service sits within the Adult & Community Services Department of Bolton Council. The Council first formed a joint library and museum service in 1853. Today the service runs fifteen libraries, three museums, an archive, a local studies library and an aquarium, and cares for collections of objects, archival documents, books and live fish. This policy relates only to the acquisition and disposal of objects and specimens for the museum collections. The library, archive, local studies library and aquarium collections are all subject to separate professional standards. Bolton Museum is housed in the purpose-built Civic Centre, completed in 1938 (fully opened in 1947), which also contains Bolton Archives, Bolton Local Studies Library, Bolton Aquarium and Bolton Central Library. This building replaced two earlier Victorian museums; the Chadwick Museum (opened 1884) and Mere Hall Art Gallery (opened 1890). The museum contains collections of fine and decorative art, Egyptology, local history, archaeology and natural history for public display and research. Hall I’ th’ Wood is a historic house museum. Originally built as a half-timbered hall in the 16th century, it is famous for its association with Samuel Crompton, who invented his spinning mule while he was a tenant there in 1779. The hall was purchased for the people of Bolton by Lord Leverhulme in 1899 and officially opened as a public museum in 1902. The museum displays collections of 17th and 18th century English folk life along with objects relating to Samuel Crompton and Lord Leverhulme. Smithills Hall is a historic house museum. Construction of the building began in the 14th century with additions and alterations being made up until the 19th century. The earlier part of the house, which includes a medieval Great Hall, has been open to the public as a museum since 1963, and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The rest of the building is Grade I listed. The Victorian rooms were opened to the public in the early 1990s. On display are collections of 17th, 18th and 19th century English furniture and items from the fine and decorative art and natural history collections. Page 6 of 33 2. Existing Collections In the following descriptions, collections are grouped together according to the intellectual rationale for collecting and interpreting them, rather than by types of object. This grouping is also reflected in the way information about the objects is recorded and stored. However, the physical objects are more likely to be grouped for storage and care according to their physical properties. 2.1. Fine Art Paintings, Drawings and Prints Bolton began to formally acquire art works from the 1880s when the first separate public museum was opened using money bequeathed by Dr Samuel Chadwick. Although a separate art gallery was established at Mere Hall in 1890 following the building’s gift to the Council by J.P. Thomasson, the art collection developed slowly. The few significant early acquisitions included two works by Thomas Moran (Sunset, Pueblo del Walpe, Arizona and The Coast of Florida), the first given by W.H. Lever and the other by J. Lever Tillotson. In 1938, a core collection from Mere Hall was transferred to the new gallery at Le Mans Crescent. This was added to in 1940 when Bolton received a bequest of forty paintings, sculptures and drawings from Frank Hindley Smith, a Bolton mill owner. These works were by important artists such as Roger Fry, Vanessa Bell and William Etty and formed the nucleus on which the collection has since been built. After the war, Bolton’s museums committee sought advice from the director of the Walker Art Gallery on how to transform the limited collection into one of regional and national significance. The collections were audited and advice was given on what to collect. The collection has since been built upon by subsequent curators with the intention of creating a cultural resource for the education and enjoyment of the Bolton public and now covers a range of styles and subjects. Artists of local, national and international significance are represented with very good examples by important painters such as J.M.W. Turner, Giordano, John Bratby, Edward Burra and Elizabeth Blackadder. The watercolours, prints and drawings now number over 2350, the majority of which are by British artists and date from the 19th Century, with the exception of a few good representative examples of watercolours by Italian, Dutch and French artists. Within the art collection there are over 1000 prints, the majority of which are by 20th century British artists. Of particular importance is the Sycamore Collection which is broadly representative of British printmaking from 1900 to 1960 and provides an excellent resource for both reference and display. The collection also features portraits of local personalities, local topographical views and examples of the work of significant artists associated with Bolton. Of specific importance is the work of Thomas Moran and his circle, the most significant work of which is Thomas Moran’s Nearing Camp, Evening on the Upper Colorado River, Wyoming. Many of the works of Thomas Moran and his family have been collected as a part of a specific and directed drive to acquire works by this important Bolton-born artist. Sculpture The sculpture collection consists of around 50 works, the majority of which are bronzes by mid 20th century artists. Most of the works in this collection were collected during a short period in the 1960s and 1970s of astute and directed acquisition, backed by significant funds. Several internationally celebrated artists such as Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and Jacob Epstein are represented. This small but outstanding collection provides an Page 7 of 33 extraordinary resource, allowing people from the local area to see and study sculpture by world renowned artists without having to travel to a national museum or gallery.
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