Do Museums 'Let Go' of Their Collections? The Reality of Overcrowded Storage and the Unchanging Principles
MEXT's revision allowing the 'disposal' of museum collections has sparked debate, though museums remain committed to collecting principles despite severe storage and cost constraints.Summary
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in Japan recently revised its museum operation standards to include 'disposal' as a management option for collections, sparking significant public debate. However, insights from museum professionals suggest that the situation is far more nuanced than simple disposal. Museums are facing severe limitations in storage space and rising preservation costs. National and local institutions alike are struggling to maintain proper environments for existing collections, leading to stricter intake and deposit policies. Despite these physical and financial constraints, museum professionals maintain that their core mission to collect and preserve culturally significant works remains unchanged.
(Source：Tokyo Art Beat)