Duration
30h Th
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Course organized in Ecole supérieure des Arts Saint-Luc (Liège).
The course approaches collections management as a continuum of decisions and practices, from the moment an object enters a museum through to its conservation, circulation and accessibility, and, in some cases, its deaccessioning or restitution. It brings together acquisition policies, inalienability, inventory, object marking, documentation and digitisation, condition reporting, collections checking, storage and movement control. Museum storage is considered not as a passive space for keeping objects, but as a dynamic environment supporting conservation, knowledge and the use of collections. Loans, transport and other forms of collection mobility provide a basis for addressing risk management and the sharing of responsibilities. The course also examines these practices in relation to contemporary issues, including environmental sustainability, evolving standards and professional practices, access to collections, and public participation and inclusion. It thus encourages students to understand collections management as a process of balancing competing priorities rather than simply applying technical standards.
https://www.saint-luc.be/
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
- Understand and master the fundamental principles of collections management, from acquisition to storage, documentation, mobility and access to heritage objects.
- Identify the issues and trade-offs underlying collections management practices, particularly in relation to conservation, ethics, sustainability, accessibility and institutional responsibility.
- Observe and critically analyse the organisation and practical realities of collections management, through visits to museum storage facilities and by confronting theoretical principles with material, human and institutional realities.
- Understand the diversity of professional practices and how they are adapted to the specific characteristics of collections, drawing on discussions with professionals and on the fieldwork carried out collectively by the students.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Further information:
Oral exam
Group work to be presented orally + written report to be distributed to the whole class.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
drouguet.noemie@saint-luc.be