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 6 December 2019 approved by governing body: Policy review procedure: The Collections Development Policy will be published and reviewed from time to time, at least once every five years. Date at which this policy is December 2022 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 .......................................... 6 6. Legal and ethical framework for acquisition and disposal of items ....................... 7 7. Collecting policies of other museums .................................................................... 7 8. Archival holdings ................................................................................................... 8 9. Acquisition ............................................................................................................ 8 10. Human remains..................................................................................................... 9 11. Biological and geological material ......................................................................... 9 12. Archaeological material ......................................................................................... 9 13. Exceptions ............................................................................................................ 9 14. Spoliation ............................................................................................................ 10 15. The repatriation and restitution of objects and human remains .......................... 10 16. Disposal procedures ........................................................................................... 10 Appendix 1 – Description of existing Ethnographic and Archaeology collections ..... 14 Appendix 2 – Description of existing Musical Instruments collection ........................ 22 Appendix 3 – Overview of existing Natural History collection ................................... 36 Appendix 4 – Publications referring to collections and related items held at the Horniman Museum .............................................................................................. 41 Appendix 5 – Policy on human remains ................................................................... 49 Appendix 6 – Archive collections development policy .............................................. 55 Appendix 7 – Handling Collection collections development policy ........................... 58 1. Relationship to other relevant policies/plans of the organisation: 1.1. The Museum’s statement of purpose is: The Horniman connects us all with global cultures and the natural environment, encouraging us to shape a positive future for the world we all share. Collections development priorities are listed in the Horniman’s 3 year corporate plan which is updated annually. 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 13 Nov 2019 Collections development policy – Agreed 2 of 59 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 a 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 150 years have enabled 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. 2.2. As with any collections of this nature, our collection includes objects that are today subject to restrictions that did not exist at the time of collection, including those made of controlled materials (i.e. ivory), human remains, and cultural property which we now understand it is disrespectful for us to own, store or display. 2.3. As the Horniman begins to confront its colonial history we wish to develop an ethical approach to collections development which will take into account the views of source and diaspora communities and past history of collecting. 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 and their history can be found within the following appendices to this policy: • Anthropology • Musical Instruments • Natural History 4. Themes and priorities for future collecting 4.1. We will increase our commitment to community focussed collections development, seeking to develop collaborative models of collecting and curating, creating local ethnographies and socially engaged collecting. We will deliver this through projects such as the South London Music and Hair projects. This will include how we represent emotions, moments, ideas, ephemeral objects, performance and the intangible in the collection and programme. In doing this we will 13 Nov 2019 Collections development policy – Agreed 3 of 59 o prioritise the collection of objects that tell different stories to those already present in our collections, for example focusing on underrepresented regions, cultural expressions, time periods or communities, or contemporary global realities. o not acquire items where provenance is ether unknown, or suggests objects were acquired under duress/without consent. o seek to collect collaboratively with communities and partners that reflect the ways in which individuals or communities would seek to represent themselves in a museum setting. We will focus on discrete and well documented and contextualised collections. 4.2. We will develop collecting and collections research that focus on understanding and addressing the environmental challenges facing the natural world and its impact on local and global communities including issues relating to social justice. We will work in collaboration with national and international partners. We will deliver this primarily through the Nature and Love programme. 4.3. We will develop new collecting practices that enable objects to have a variety of different statuses, including temporary and ephemeral for example commissioned artwork which is created in response to our collections and which we choose to exhibit in our galleries. This will enable more dynamic storytelling and different public engagements with objects in projects like South London Music and Nature and Love. 4.4. We will continue with the collections review for the Music in the Making