Definitions and Purposes of Museums
Collections are formed through donations, purchases, and bailments. In bailment, items are given to an institution to be protected and exhibited, to be returned after a period. The handbook provides information to stakeholders about the collection: how it was chosen and who made decisions about it.
Acquisition and Ethics in Museums
Museums have funds to acquire items for their collections. Yes, museums contain pieces stolen or taken by force during war or colonial rule. An agreement must be generated noting conditions for an object’s use when it leaves storage, research, or work areas. In short, museums can acquire items from individual collectors and dealers, but they must avoid participating in the illegal trade of stolen or plundered artifacts.
The Nature of Permanent Collections
A permanent collection consists of the objects, artifacts, or pieces of art that are collected and owned by a museum. When a museum holds a permanent collection, it assumes legal, ethical, fiduciary, and professional responsibility for the artwork.
Accessioning and Collection Management
The process of accessioning legally adds an item to a museum’s permanent collection. Accessioned collections are held by museums in the public trust and therefore are subject to specific legal and ethical considerations. Museums decide what to accession based on a Collections Management Policy and a Collecting Plan listing specific items or item types they are looking for.
Repatriation and Museum Ethics
Artefacts belong to their country of origin; repatriation is the right thing to do. The link between artefacts and their place of origin should be honored by returning them to where they were originally made and used.