Pink Palace Response

Despite coming from a varied and background, the Pink Palace Museum has come to follow many of the standards set forth for museums by ICOM and Spectrum regarding mission statement, acquisitions, collections management, conservation, deaccessioning and educational outreach. The mission statement of the museum clearly sets out what is to be expected from the exhibits and educational programs offered by the museum and even sets out a specific geographic area of concentration. The museum is careful to adhere to these guidelines, as is evidenced by their collections on display, their high level of community outreach commitment through educational programs and their acquisitions policies as stated by Ron Brister.

As is condoned by ICOM, the museum does not accept donations of items that do not represent their mission statement. Also, they do not accept donations without clear proof of ownership, or those that the museum would be unable to use. Likewise, their deaccession policy follows the ICOM standards. Although they do deaccession, which is to be avoided, they look to first put items on loan or offer them to other institutions and only deaccession items that they are no longer able to care for, have moved out of the focus of the museum, or they have duplicates of. They also must have the permission of the director as well as the board to make final decisions regarding both accessions and deaccessions.

As for collections management and care, they follow strict guidelines in order to protect the objects. Security cameras, personnel and security systems are employed along with the use of sturdy and secure cases. Each object is numbered and has an information surrogate in a card file, an appropriate way to keep abbreviated yet accessible documentation. The cases are made specifically for what is to be contained in them and because of the threat of earthquakes in the area, mounts for objects on display are each handmade by staff to protect the object in case of an earthquake. This care involves appropriate risk assessment, including accounting for the natural surroundings of the area. A side note here, however, regarding this is that there are plants surrounding the building at close quarters on at least three sides while bug problems were listed by Ron as a strong threat to many of the artifacts in the building. Perhaps a more thorough risk assessment involving this point should be taken into consideration.

Other aspects of collections care, such as storage environment and conservation seemed well within good museum practice codes. A hygrothermograph is stationed within the storage facility (although I am not sure they are positioned in the galleries, which is also a necessity) and the temperature and humidity are kept at a constant determined amiable for the artifacts housed there. Acid free tissue is used in wrapping artifacts and, wherever possible, folding is avoided. Proper storage containers with seals to protect the items within are also in use.

As for conservation, the Pink Palace employs a professional conservator who uses all reversible techniques in an attempt to stabilize objects. Pieces are not over-conserved or added to, but put in a condition that keeps them intact without altering them permanently. Spaces are set aside for both clean and dirty conservation so that hazardous chemicals and conservation methods may be kept away from objects that could be harmed by them.

Although faced with a number of issues concerning politics and funding, as are all museums, the Pink Palace has been able to put into place practices that very closely follow the guidelines set out my the museum governing institutions in regards to a number of their departments. As well, they are able to keep research collections and a library for the active research of their collections. In addition, they keep teaching materials which are used for public outreach programs. All in all, this museum meets the requirements of both its mission statement and the general guidelines for museums very well in almost all aspects that were seen in the tour.