1. Inside the Ethics Committee UKRG 13 May 2014 Jane Arthur Museums & Heritage Consultant

2. Why have a code of ethics?  Offer guidance in difficult situations  Provide consistency of approach  Maintain confidence of benefactors and society as a whole  Help resolve day to day operational and management problems

3. MA Code of Ethics, 2008  Society can expect museums to: Hold collections in trust on behalf of society Focus on public service Encourage people to explore collections for inspiration, learning and enjoyment Consult and involve communities, users and supporters Acquire items honestly and responsibly Safeguard the long-term public interest in the collections Recognise the interests of people who made, used, owned, collected or gave items in the collection Support the protection of natural and human environments Research, share and interpret information related to collections, reflecting diverse views Review performance to innovate and improve

4. The Museums Association Ethics Committee Who we are  Convenor – Nick Merriman, Director Manchester Museum  Committee – Charlotte Woodhead, David Fleming, Judy Lindsay, Jane Arthur, Richard de Peyer, Suzanne Lyle and 2 vacancies What we do  Publish guidance for the sector  Raise awareness of museum ethics  Casework

5. Disposal for financial reasons Code of Ethics criteria  Only in exceptional circumstances (6.13)  Does not damage public confidence in museums (6.13)  Will significantly improve the long-term public benefit derived from the remaining collection (6.14i)  Not to generate short-term revenue (6.14ii)  A last resort after other sources of funding have been thoroughly explored (6.14iii)  Extensive prior consultation with sector bodies has been undertaken (6.14iv)  The item under consideration lies outside the museum’s established core collection as defined in the collections policy (6.14v)  Ring-fence any money raised…solely and directly for the benefit of the museum’s collection (6.15)

6. Disposal for financial reasons ACE guidance Recommended approach for financially motivated disposal:  Stage 1: Assessment and in-principle decision-making  Stage 2: Planning and investigation  Stage 3: Consultation, advice and making the final decision  Stage 4: The sale  Stage 5: Post-sale and record keeping. There are four key documents that need to be completed during the process: Process review report – evidences the decisions made and processes followed (updated throughout) First contact form – sent to MA and ACE outlining proposal and reasons once an in principle decision to sell has been made. Compliance report – sets out how the proposal meets MA Ethics and ACE Accreditation criteria Final report – details sale, money raised and how allocated

7. Recent casework on disposal for financial reasons Royal Cornwall Museum – Fine art Southampton City Council – Fine art Bolton City Council – Fine art Northampton City Council – Egyptian statue of Sekhemka Croydon Borough Council – Riesco collection of Chinese ceramics

8. Disposal - key issues for the Ethics Committee What constitutes “last resort”? What comprises the “core” collection? Expert advice Communication and consultation Where and how funds raised are invested and protected to support collections