Should museums keep artefacts that they cannot display?
When we visit museums, we are often amazed by all the artefacts that are on display. However, for many museums, the items that are exhibited are only a small part of the total collection. Museums do not really own what is in their collections but keep it for the benefit of the public. Because of this, it does not seem right that so many things are not being shown to the public, simply because there is not enough space. This essay will look at what alternatives there are to this situation. It will conclude that there are a number of ways in which museums can reduce the number of artefacts that cannot be exhibited.
Many museums around the world have a lot more artefacts than they can display at any one time. For example, the Natural History Museum in London has 70 million objects in its collection, while in just one of the collections at the British Museum there are over 2 million items from archeological sites. Although the collections are very important for people who want to research into these subjects, it is impossible for everything to be displayed for the general public. What is most important in these situations is that the collections are preserved – kept in good condition – for the future. However, this doesn’t mean that all museums should keep everything they have. There are better ways to solve the problem of having too many items.
Remembering that all these artefacts are for the general public, there are several ways in which museums can reduce their collections. Firstly, they can give them to another museum which can preserve them better. Secondly, they can transfer them to other museums where they will be considered more valuable and put on display. Thirdly, they can loan them to other institutions that will provide a better environment for them. Sometimes, in very special circumstances, items can be put on sale to the general public to raise money to preserve or even to buy other artefacts.
Reducing the number of items that a museum cannot display or even look after should be part of the good management of the collection. Museums can transfer, loan or give items to other museums which can preserve them better and put them on display for more people to see. In this way, museums are doing their job of preserving history for the good of the public.