C2C Care Course Developing a Collections Management Policy

A Collections Management Policy is a core document for any collecting institution that governs the legal and ethical requirements of the institution’s collecting practices and collections care. Writing a policy for the first time or updating a policy can be overwhelming due to the complexities of constantly changing legal and ethical requirements. Utilizing multiple teaching tools, including readings, podcasts, videos, and discussions, this course will guide participants through the development process of their Collections Management Policy. Additionally, this course will draw participant’s attention to the protection provided by a carefully written Collections Management Policy from unlawful or unethical decision making. At the end of the program, participants should feel confident to edit an existing Collections Management Policy or write a new one with a focus on those collections-related law and ethics that impact our ability to care for, use, and manage collections.

This self-study program is presented as a series of recordings of a live course offered in September 2024. Please note that any assignments are designed for enrichment only and will not be reviewed.

Course Outline

Session 1

• Date: September 17, 2024
• Time: 1:00 - 2:00 pm ET
• Topic: The first session of this course will focus on the different ways objects can be acquired and how the title of ownership passes to the museum.

Session 2

• Date: September 19, 2024
• Time: 1:00 - 2:00 pm ET 
• Topic: The second session of the course will be diving deeper into special laws and ethics that can impact acquisition methods and quality of title, such as copyright or questionable provenance. 

Session 3

• Date: September 24, 2024
• Time: 1:00 - 2:00 pm ET
• Topic: The third session will move on to non-title holding acquisitions, such as loans and temporary custody. 

Session 4

• Date: September 26, 2024
• Time: 1:00 - 2:00 pm ET
• Topic: We will conclude the course with the fourth session on how to dispose of, or deaccession, objects no longer wanted by the museum. 

*Please note: All meetings will be conducted using Zoom Meeting. 

Coordinator/Instructor

Rebecca Kennedy has collaborated with diverse collections and cultural institutions to elevate the preservation and management of collections. Following the completion of an MA in Museum Studies from The George Washington University, Rebecca dedicated eleven years to preservation and collections management at the Smithsonian Institution before founding Curae Collections, LLC in 2018.

Rebecca contributes actively to committees within the American Institute for Conservation (AIC), American Alliance of Museums (AAM), and Association of Registrars and Collections Specialist (ARCS), demonstrating her commitment to bolstering the cultural institutions and their workers. Additionally, she serves as an editor for the Collections Journal and imparts her knowledge as an instructor on Collections Management for the George Washington University. As a peer-reviewed Professional Associate (PA) of AIC, Rebecca garners recognition for her contributions as an allied professional within the conservation community.

Registration Fee:

• $89 USD - Self-Study

Connecting to Collections Care courses are made possible in part by generous support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.