Chains of closure

Hundreds of museums have closed in the UK since 2000. Some closures have led to the transfer of part or all of the collection to another museum which has later also closed, causing collections to move again. These repeated endings are described here as chains of closure, and some involve multiple museums in succession. Not only do collections move, but objects can also be transformed in the process, with results ranging from modification to decay and outright destruction. This article describes several chains of closure, from a simple example within a local authority to more complex cases involving multiple museums. These chains of closure highlight not only that many museums are impermanent, but also that collections often outlast several museums in succession. Some museums may be better thought of as temporary custodians of collections, rather than the ‘permanent institutions’ they have been defined as

MEDLINE · Conservation Techniques and Studies · Digital and Traditional Archives Management · Museums and Cultural Heritage