What is the definition of dispersal and disposal in relation to this project?
Dispersal: the formal transfer of an item(s) from the Museum's collection into a new home within the public domain. The item(s) may either be placed on long-term loan to the recipient organization or legal title in the item(s) may be transferred to the recipient organization.

Disposal: the process of removing an object to which the Museum (NMM) has legal title from its permanent collection to a recipient outside of the public domain.

When did the Reform Project begin?
The categorization process began in July 2003 and the dispersal/disposal programme actively started in August 2004.

Which store has been closed and what has been saved financially?
'Wevco', in south-east London, with a saving of £280,000 per annum.

Will the Museum sell objects?
Not items acquired as ‘museum objects’, unless all opportunities to donate to another public organization (preferably a registered museum) have been exhausted, in which case sale at public auction may be considered.

Items obtained as temporary display ‘props’ may be considered for sale at public auction if there is no obvious public organization that would benefit from a loan or transfer (eg. commissioned demonstration models/replica furniture).

The primary aims are to

• keep collections in the public domain and publicly accessible
• reduce duplication
• free-up resources in the cause of greater efficiency
• invest in improving access to, and preservation of, the Museum's core collections.

The project is not about 'making money'.

For items which were donated, does the Museum contact the original donor?
The NMM will normally only disperse or dispose of items to which it has legal title and there is therefore no legal obligation to inform the donor. However, if the item came by gift within the preceding ten years, the NMM would write to the donor as a matter of courtesy.

What if no other museum wants it?
That would depend on the object in question. Each case will be judged on its individual merits, informed by relevant professional ethical guidance. In exceptional circumstances, once all opportunities to donate to another public organization have been exhausted, sale at public auction may be considered.

How many items are we talking about?
4415 objects, all of which all are currently among collections held in store. The Museum's total collections total over two million objects.

How much will NMM save in terms of costs?
The NMM hopes to disperse/dispose of 60% of the volume of the objects identified. If successful this would equate to approximately 380 cubic metres. To calculate the real storage saving this figure would multiply by five (allowing for racking, access space etc.) which equates to approximately 2000 cubic metres. This would produce a significant saving in future storage costs, which would be reinvested in collections care.

Useful pages

• The Museum held an open seminar to discuss the Collections Reform Project with interested members of the public and professional stakeholders. Read a summary of the seminar.
• Read the press release - issued 30 November 2004