Sale of Bacon would not meet the Code of Ethics

“North Korea just stated that it is in the final stages of developing a nuclear weapon capable of reaching parts of the US. It won’t happen!” IS Kirklees Art Gallery subject to the standards set by the Museums Association regarding sale of public assets?

If so, their Code of Ethics should be applied to the proposed sale of the Bacon (and any other art owned by the people of Kirklees) so that short-term financial gain does not overpower arguments for long-term community benefit.

A key tenet of this Code of Ethics is to treat museum collections as cultural, scientific or historic assets, not financial assets.

This is further elaborated by section 2.9, stating that local authorities should: Recognise the principle that collections should not normally be regarded as financially negotiable assets and that financially motivated disposal risks damaging public confidence in museums. Refuse to undertake disposal principally for financial reasons, except where it will significantly improve the long-term public benefit derived from the remaining collection. This will include demonstrating that:

The item under consideration lies outside the museum’s established core collection as defined in the collections development policy

Extensive prior consultation with sector bodies and the public has been undertaken and considered

It is not to generate shortterm revenue (for example to meet a budget deficit)

It is as a last resort after other sources of funding have been