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Subj: Valuation Conference
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Date: Tue, 28 Jun 1994 15:34:13 -0300 (BST)
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Subject: Valuation Conference
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Dear John
Kathie Way at the NHM in London has fowarded some of the email about
the valuation conference that has been flying around MUSEUM-L.
There seems to be a misconception growing about the purpose of the
conference here in Manchester [19-21 April 1995]. There is no
intention to prejudge the issue of whether we should put monetary
value on natural history collections, merely a desire to debate fully
the issue and try and arrive at a consensus.
I append the 'Aims of the Conference', and an outline of the
Scientific Programme. There is a lot of support in the UK, Europe,
and the Antipodes, in particular. In total we have had 150+ replies
to the first circular from 24 countries to date, and 30+ papers
offered. A list of the institutions and organisations who have
formally declared support for the aims of the conference is appended
also.
It occurs to me to wonder whether the marked difference in the
economic culture between the USA and the others (ie. public purse
funding of museums being much more common outside the US) underlies
the difference in veiwpoint?
The 'real world' has a nasty way of catching one unawares, and I
would like to see all Nat.Hist. curators presenting as united a front
as possible on this problem, especially to them out there as might
threaten the collections we hold in trust. In the immortal words of
the desk sergeant in 'Hill Street Blues' - "Let's do it to them
before they do it to us!"
Finally, may I ask your good offices in getting me put on the mailing
list for MUSEUM-L, as [log in to unmask] - info. on how I
broadcast to the list would be helpful. Would you mind fowarding
this message and appendices to everyone on MUSEUM-L for me? Thanks.
==================================================================
International Conference on the Value
and Valuation of Natural Science Collections
AIMS
Natural science collections have scientific,
cultural and monetary values. The
conference will explore the nature of these
various values and will reflect the experience
of those involved in the care and use of such
collections
It is often said that natural science collections are
undervalued (in all senses of the word) when
compared with humanities-based collections,
particularly those of fine art objects. Is this true? If
so, is it a consequence of the way society views the
arts and the sciences? Or is it because art collections
can have such high financial values? What can be
done to increase society's appreciation of the many
values of natural science collections? What pressures
are there upon museums to put financial values on
their natural science collections, and should such
pressures be welcomed or resisted? In responding to
such pressures, is there a risk that the intrinsic
scientific and cultural value of natural science
collections is at best undermined, and at worst sold
out?
The publication resulting from the conference will
help to answer some of these questions, and inform
future policy decisions about natural science
collections.
=================================================
Scientific Programme. Reflecting the Aims of the
Conference, three major themes will be pursued during
the various scientific sessions. These sessions will
examine the scientific value and cultural impact of
natural history collections, and address the question of
the financial value and valuation of these collections.
The latter theme presents four aspects - what pressures
are there to provide financial valuations for natural
history collections, what commercial valuations are de
facto in existence already, what are the arguments for
and against assessing such monetary values and, if we
have to value, how best should it be done to minimise
the inherent risks to the collection?
The final debate session will endeavour to draw together
all these disparate threads, and to attempt the
formulation of a concord that will inform future policy
decisions about natural history collections.
==================================================
LIST OF ORGANISATIONS SUPPORTING
AIMS OF CONFERENCE as at 28 June 1994
Association of Systematics Collections
British Society for Plant Pathology
Biology Curators' Group
Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa
Federation for Natural Sciences Collections Research
Freshwater Biological Association
Geological Association
Geological Conservation Unit, Sedgwick Mus.,Cambridge
Geological Curators' Group
Glasgow Museum and Art Gallery
Institute of Biology
Linnean Society of London
Musee Zoologique, Lausanne
Museu de Zoologia, Barcelona
Museums and Galleries Commission
Muzeul de Istoria Naturale "Grigore Antipa",Romania
National Audit Office
National Museum of Ireland
National Museum of Wales
National Museum, Prague
National Museums of Scotland
National Museums on Merseyside
National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside
Natural Environment Research Council
Natural History Museum, London
Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel
Naturhistoriska Museet, Goteborg
North of England Museums Service
North West Museums Service
North West Collections Research Unit
Palaeontological Association
Rijksherbarium, Leiden
Strecker Museum, Baylor University, Texas
South Eastern Museums Service
Swedish Museums Association
Tyne and Wear Museums
UK Institute for Conservation (Natural History)
UK Museums Association
Ulster Museum
University of Victoria Geology Dept, Australia
Western Australian Museum
West Midlands Area Museums Service
Yorks and Humberside Museums Council
================================================
Regards,
Bill P.
**********************************************************************
* Charles (Bill) Pettitt * Keeper of Invertebrates *
* * (& network supervisor) *
* E-mail: [log in to unmask] * Manchester Museum *
* * University of Manchester *
* Tel: +44.61.275.2666 * Manchester M13 9PL *
* Fax: +44.61.275.2676 * United Kingdom *
**********************************************************************
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