ResearchplanDeaccessioninginEurope-DieuwertjeWijsmuller
Introduction:
FornearlyadecadeIhavebeenmonitoringthedevelopmentofdeaccessioningwithintheEuropean
Union.Ifirstbeganthisinvestigationin2007asapartofmymasterthesisresearch,Deaccessioning
onaEuropeanLevel:opportunityorimpossibility,whichfocusedonidentifyingthecontemporary
viewsofheritageprofessionalsfromallmemberstates.Ultimately,Iconcludedthatanallencompassingpolicycouldnotexist,duetothefactthatprofessionaldiscoursewithinthevarious
countrieswasquitedivided.
However,overthepastfewyearsgeneraltrendsregardingdeaccessioninghavedrasticallyshifted.I
believethetimehascometo,onceagain,explorethecontemporarycontexttodeterminethe
degreeinwhichprofessionalattitudeshavechangedsince2007.
Theresearch:
Whiletheresearchfrom2007willfunctionasabenchmark,thisinvestigationwillfocuson:
Mainquestion:
Towhatextenthaveprofessionalopinionsandtechniques,regardingdeaccessioning,changedacross
Europeanmemberstatessince2007?
Sub-questions:
1. Howisthemuseumsector(includingsubsidies)arrangedinthememberstates?
a. Whoownsthecollectionsandthemuseums
b. Whoiseligibletomakedecisionsregardingthecollections?
2. Whataretherules,legislationandcurrenttechniquesusedregardingdeaccessioninginthe
memberstates?
3. Whataretheopinionsofthetargetgroupsondeaccessioning:
a. Governmentalofficials
b. Museumprofessionals
c. Academicsinthemuseologicalfield.
4. Howhavetheseopinionsandtechniqueschangedsince2007?
ThehypothesisoftheresearchisbasedupontheideathatwhilemanycountriesintheEuropean
Unionaretakingamorecautiousapproachtodeaccessioningduetotheemergenceofcontroversial
examples,deaccessioninginandofitselfisareliableandethicaltechniquesandmethodswhen
carriedoutappropriately.
Inordertoappropriatelycontextualizetheresearchmaterialgatheredfromthedifferingmember
states,athoroughexplanationofthecountries’legislation,mandatesandethicsonculturalmatters
willbepresented.
PleasenotethatwhileIintendtoidentifythevariousattitudesprofessionalshavetowards
deaccessioning,Iwillnotattempttoprovideguidelinesorimprovementstoexistingdeaccessioning
policies.SincetheNetherlandshasbeenapioneerinthefieldofdeaccessioning,regarding
controversialcasestudiesandprogressive,innovativepolicyandlegislation,IwillrefertoDutch
examplesthroughoutthisinvestigationandusethemasageneralstandard.
ResearchplanDeaccessioninginEurope-DieuwertjeWijsmuller
Methodology:
Thisquantitativeresearchconsistsofthoroughdeskresearchaswellasacomprehensiveliterature
reviewinordertoprovideanextensivebackgroundintothedifferentsituationsofeachcollaborating
country.
Asurveyonthesubjectwillbedistributedtoasmanyprofessionalsaspossiblevia(social)networks
andpersonalcontacts.
Iwillalsovisittenmemberstatesinordertoelaborateonthespecificsituationofeachcountry.If
possible,thethreetargetgroupswillbeinterviewedbymeansofaworkshopofaround3hours.I
havechosenthismethodsinceitallowsforanopendialoguewiththeparticipantsandenablesmeto
viewthesubjectfromdifferentperspectives.
Furthermore,Ihavechosentoonlyincludemuseumspecialistsinthetargetgroups.Ihave
deliberatelychosennottoincludepublicopinion,sincetheBritishMuseumAssociationexecuteda
thoroughpublicconsultationonthesubjectin2006concludingthatthepublictendstounderstand
andacceptdisposalplansaslongastheyarewellinformed.
Planning:
TheresearchwillbeexecutedbetweenApril2016andNovember2017
• April–November2016:
o Deskresearch
o Literaturereview
o Questionnairebuilding
o Contactingmemberstates/professionals
• September2016–July2017:
o Sendingoutquestionnaires
o Visiting10memberstates
o Analysingfirstbatchofresults
• July–October2017:
o Analysingallresults
o Compilingthefindings
• October-November2017
o Editing
o Lay-out
o Publication
Exclusions:
Thegeneraltopicofcollectionmobilityandtherestitutionofillegallyobtainedculturalgoodswillnot
becoveredinthisresearch.
ThisresearchispossiblebecauseofthegiftofTheMondriaanFund:Thepublicculturalfunding
organizationfocusingonvisualartsandculturalheritage.