Collections Development Policy
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Collections Development Policy Name of museum: Horniman Museum & Gardens Name of governing body: Horniman Public Museum and Public Park Trust Date on which this policy was 15 October 2015 approved by governing body: Policy review procedure: The C ollections Development Policy will be published and reviewed from time to time, at least once every five years. Date at which this policy is October 2018 due for review: Arts Council England will be notified of any changes to the collections development policy, and the implications of any such changes for the future of collections. 1. Relationship to other relevant policies/plans of the organisation: ......................... 2 2. History of the collections ....................................................................................... 3 3. An overview of current collections......................................................................... 3 4. Themes and priorities for future collecting ............................................................ 3 5. Themes and priorities for rationalisation and disposal .......................................... 5 6. Legal and ethical framework for acquisition and disposal of items ....................... 6 7. Collecting policies of other museums .................................................................... 6 8. Archival holdings ................................................................................................... 7 9. Acquisition ............................................................................................................ 7 10. Human remains..................................................................................................... 8 11. Biological and geological material ......................................................................... 8 12. Archaeological material ......................................................................................... 8 13. Exceptions ............................................................................................................ 8 14. Spoliation .............................................................................................................. 8 15. The repatriation and restitution of objects and human remains ............................ 9 16. Disposal procedures ............................................................................................. 9 Appendix 1 – Description of existing Ethnographic and Archaeology collections ..... 12 Appendix 2 – Description of existing Musical Instruments collection ........................ 21 Appendix 3 – Overview of existing Natural History collection ................................... 36 Appendix 4 – Publications referring to collections and related items held at the Horniman Museum .............................................................................................. 42 Appendix 5 – Policy on human remains ................................................................... 50 Appendix 6 – Archive collections development policy .............................................. 56 Appendix 7 – Handling Collection collections development policy ........................... 59 1. Relationship to other relevant policies/plans of the organisation: 1.1. The Museum’s statement of purpose is: The aim of the Horniman Museum and Gardens is ‘to use our worldwide collections and the Gardens to encourage a wider appreciation of the World, its peoples and their cultures, and its environments.’ 1.2. The governing body will ensure that both acquisition and disposal are carried out openly and with transparency. 1.3. By definition, the Museum has a long-term purpose and holds collections in trust for the benefit of the public in relation to its stated objectives. The governing body therefore accepts the principle that sound curatorial reasons must be established before consideration is given to any acquisition to the collection, or the disposal of any items in the Museum’s collection. 1.4. Acquisitions outside the current stated policy will only be made in exceptional circumstances. 1.5. The Museum recognises its responsibility, when acquiring additions to its collections, to ensure that care of collections, documentation arrangements and use of collections will meet the requirements of the Museum Accreditation Standard. This includes using SPECTRUM primary procedures for collections management. It will take into account limitations on collecting imposed by such factors as staffing, storage and care of collection arrangements. 1.6. The Museum will undertake due diligence and make every effort not to acquire, whether by purchase, gift, bequest or exchange, any object or specimen unless the governing body or responsible officer is satisfied that the Museum can acquire a valid title to the item in question. 1.7. In exceptional cases, disposal may be motivated principally by financial reasons. The method of disposal will therefore be by sale and the procedures outlined below will be followed. In cases where disposal is motivated by financial reasons, the governing body will not undertake disposal unless it can be demonstrated that all the following exceptional circumstances are met in full: ● the disposal will significantly improve the long-term public benefit derived from the remaining collection ● the disposal will not be undertaken to generate short-term revenue (for example to meet a budget deficit) ● the disposal will be undertaken as a last resort after other sources of funding have been thoroughly explored ● extensive prior consultation with sector bodies has been undertaken ● the item under consideration lies outside the Museum’s established core collection Page 2 of 61 Collections development policy 02.00 / 20 Oct 2015 2. History of the collections 2.1. Frederick Horniman, tea merchant, politician and philanthropist, was a compulsive and passionate collector, fascinated by the power of real objects. He used his own travels and a network of agents to amass as huge collection of specimens from every corner of the world which he then made freely available to the people. These collections, well-curated and developed over the past one hundred and twenty years have enables the Horniman to become one of the few museums in the country capable of illustrating the breadth of the World’s natural and cultural diversity. Detailed information about the History of the collections can be found within the following appendices to this policy: ● Appendix 1 – Description of existing Ethnographic and Archaeology collections ● Appendix 2 – Description of existing Musical Instruments collection ● Appendix 3 – Overview of existing Natural History collection 3. An overview of current collections 3.1. The Accredited Collections are divided into three disciplinary areas: Anthropology, Musical Instruments and Natural History. In 1997 both the Anthropology and Musical Instrument collections were designated as being of national importance by the then Museums and Galleries Commission (MGC; now Arts Council England). Detailed information about the existing collections can be found within the following appendices to this policy: ● Appendix 1 – Description of existing Ethnographic and Archaeology collections ● Appendix 2 – Description of existing Musical Instruments collection ● Appendix 3 – Overview of existing Natural History collection 4. Themes and priorities for future collecting Criteria for acquisition 4.1. Potential acquisitions will be assessed using the following criteria: ● ability to support the Museum’s mission to ‘encourage a wider appreciation of the World, its peoples and their cultures, and environments’; ● significance of their contribution to strengthen our existing collections; ● significance of their potential to strengthen our display and learning programmes; ● significance of their potential to strengthen research within the Horniman and beyond. 02.00 / 20 Oct 2015 Collections development policy Page 3 of 61 Objectives for collection development 4.2. Specific objectives for collections development are highlighted in the collections appendices: ● Anthropology: paragraphs 30–34, starting on page 20; ● Musical Instruments: paragraphs 48–51, starting on page 34; ● Natural History: paragraphs 14–16, starting on page 40. 4.3. They reflect the aspirations of the Horniman to develop its collections through acquisition, research, publication, exhibition and disposal. Between 2012 and 2015 the Horniman embarked on two major reviews of its stored collections of natural history and anthropology. These reviews have underpinned the next phase of our development. 4.4. The Collections Peoples Stories (CPS) review of the Anthropology collection has culminated in a successful bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), which will enable the redisplay of the collection. This will include targeted acquisitions and detailed research into existing collections, leading to the opening of a new gallery in 2018. 4.5. The Natural History BioBlitz collection review identified the need to rationalise the collections. As well as making targeted new acquisitions, we will also begin a disposal programme. 4.6. The Musical Instruments collection has not undergone a curatorial assessment in recent years so the priority will be a strategic collection review which will define the long-term purpose and vision for the collection at a high level, in particular identifying its unique nature in the United Kingdom and how it complements other internationally-important collections of musical instruments. 4.7. Development of the Aquarium