We have written in the past about the challenges facing the museum sector when it comes to managing a growing collection.
In the last 10 years, The Tank Museum’s collection has grown by an incredible 52 vehicles – bringing the total collection to 337.
No museum, regardless of its size or wealth, would ever agree they have enough space for their ever-growing collections. Nor the money to look after them and display them as they feel they should.
In this article from 2022 we highlighted the pressures Museums faced as they juggle the desire to collect with the need to provide appropriate storage, care, and public access.
Here, we’ll outline how we’re handling it.
Meeting the Challenges
The Tank Museum continues to seek an appropriate and sustainable balance between the terms of our Collecting Policy, our Disposals Policy, and the feasibility of creating additional storage.
All three will form part of the solution and are being actively discussed.
“Disposal” is a brutal Museum-industry term that is often misunderstood and disguises a highly formal, legal, and transparent process.
As an Accredited Museum, The Tank Museum follows a rigorous and ethical process when any item is to be de-accessioned.
Our Collections Policy (which is currently under review) is underpinned by our charitable objective, which can be summarised as follows:
To preserve and share the history of armoured warfare by maintaining a museum that upholds the traditions of the Royal Armoured Corps and Royal Tank Regiment while safeguarding historically significant vehicles, documents, and artefacts for public benefit.
Collections are assessed and reviewed for their “significance” in alignment with this objective. “Significance” is a qualitative assessment of factors such as a vehicle’s rarity, operational history, completeness, and condition.
In this article also from 2022, we explained how this works and who is involved using our Chieftain collection as an example of the complexity that exists.
The Disposal Process
Only with the consent of the Collection Committee can an item be listed for disposal.
As an accredited museum, we must then actively offer this item to other Accredited Museums for long-term loan or transfer.
Following this, relevant non-accredited museums may be offered the item. If none are interested, The Tank Museum is legally permitted to sell it.
In all cases potential recipients are vetted to ensure the items are going to a fitting home, with the Committee responsible for setting the terms of transfer.
It’s only been 25 years or so since The Tank Museum became a “professional museum”, operating under the strict ethical guidelines that go hand-in-hand with government backed accreditation.
As we are often reminded, The Tank Museum may have made decisions on disposals before that time which may now, with hindsight, appear wrongheaded.
This video features one such example!
The Tank Museum of today has very little in common with that of the past.
Decision making is more considered, more accountable, and, as time will show, much wiser.
The Disposal List
Today The Tank Museum’s current disposal plan lists 16 vehicles, and although more will be added in time.
Three are being transferred to other accredited Museums: an unrestored Sherman BARV, a post war Marder IFV, and a Chieftain Mk10.
A Chieftain bridge layer is earmarked for loan.
Four vehicles have been sold: an FV432, FV434, Daimler Fox and Alvis Stalwart.
And another four are currently listed, of which two were range wrecks (an M40 and M4A4 hull) and deemed beyond economic restoration for an organisation of The Tank Museum’s resources.
As we’ve shown, this list isn’t generated on the whim of an individual. It’s been a long and considered process with a number of stakeholders involved.
So… Is The Tank Museum Selling Tanks?
In this case, the short answer is “yes”. But…
Of the vehicles we dispose of, only a minority are likely to be sold. Any sales come with strings attached – so the highest bidder isn’t always the winner either.
The funds raised from such sales are heavily restricted and The Tank Museum is required to re-invest these funds “in the long-term benefit of the museum and its collection.”
And that’s exactly what is happening.
A Charioteer will be arriving soon from Finland where it was purchased at auction using these funds. And there other interesting projects are currently being lined up.
But alongside this, conversations continue with regards to increasing the quantity and the quality of storage space available for large objects at The Tank Museum – so we can sustainably grow in the future.
