Collections Trust
The Collections Trust is an independent UK-based charity that works with museums, libraries, galleries and archives worldwide to improve the management and use of collections. It was established in February 1977 as the Museum Documentation Association and re-launched as the Collections Trust in 2008. Its head office is in Shoreditch, London.
Mission and aims
The Collections Trust is a registered charity. The charitable purposes were set out in 1977 and are:- To promote the education of the public by the development of museums and similar organisations by all appropriate methods;
- To develop, promote, maintain and improve standards of collections and information management in museums, art galleries, heritage organisations and other collecting institutions;
- To provide services and resources which improve the standards and methods of collections management and use.
Work
Standards and publications
The Collections Trust developed the SPECTRUM Standard – the Museum Collections Management Standard – in 1994. The standard details how to manage collections and what to do with artefacts at each stage of their lifecycle in a collection. The Standard is now in its fifth edition and is used by the majority of museums. It has been translated into several languages including Dutch and Flemish.The organisation also produces collections management best practice guides and benchmarking tools. It has particular expertise in digital collections management and the use of new technology for museums, such as 3D imaging. Many of its resources are freely available on its website.
Events
The Collections Trust hosts a number of practical workshops and seminars for collections management professionals and an annual conference. At this conference the Collections Trust's Awards are presented. Previous award winners include:2012
- Collections Practice Award – Victoria & Albert Museum
- Collections on a Budget Award - Museum of British Surfing
- Collections Practice Award - Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
- Collections on a Budget Award - East Grinstead Museum
- Participatory Practice Award - Beaney House of Art and Knowledge
- Collections Practice Award - Museum of London
- Collections on a Budget Award - Hayle Oral History Project
- Participatory Practice Award - Public Catalogue Foundation
- Enterprise in Museums Award - Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
- Collections Manager of the Year Award - Jamie Everitt of the Norfolk Museums Service
- Young Collections Professional Award - Jenny Webb of The Lightbox