Issue - meetings

To note the new acquisitions to the collection  (the material owned and held in trust in accordance with its charitable objectives by the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum charity) and the loan of material to other institutions (ie public art galleries and museums) and to approve the disposal of items in the collection according to Museums Association Code of Ethics.

The Museum Manager presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Committee was asked to note the new acquisitions to the collection  (the material owned and held in trust in accordance with its charitable objectives by the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum charity) and the loan of material to other institutions (ie public art galleries and museums) and to approve the disposal of items in the collection according to Museums Association Code of Ethics.

Disposal of the judge’s chair:

In response to questions it was explained that when accepting an acquisition, staff from the museum assess whether it meets the requirements stipulated within the Collections Policy which includes consideration of ongoing conservation costs.  It was explained that the Collections and Conservation Policies would be reviewed for the next Arts Council.  A conservation audit by a conservator, will be carried out, but this had been delayed due to Covid restrictions.  There was an ambition to have a realistic conservation strategy and plan in place.  It was confirmed that any money set aside for conservation would be a on a small scale, and the museum would need to commission a full-scale review as a part of the ongoing work. 

Members of the Committee were assured that the disposal process conformed with the accredited process and was at the top end of the approved practice.  Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum was going through a process of checking the social history items, which it had acquired as there was no other museum to in the area which could accept them. 

In response to a question regarding the loans policy, it was explained that there was a charging system. For domestic loans, it was only what was needed to cover costs but for international loans there was a bigger fee.  As the Gallery was also a borrower, there had to be a workable balance.  £20k earned from a loan of a Dante Gabriel Rossetti painting to Tokyo, enabled work to be completed in the galleries and the Pre-Raphaelite exhibition to be held. 

RESOLVED that:

The Management Committee notes:

a)    the acquisitions; and

b)    the loans

and approves:

c)    the disposals outlined in the Acquisitions, Loans and Disposals Report (attached in appendices 1 and 2).

Voting: unanimous