I’ve been looking forward to your acknowledgement of my correspondence and/or your advice in regard to the status of the QVMAG deaccession policy in the broad context. In particular I have been looking for some evidence that independent ‘expert advice’ has been sought by, offered to or provided to the Trustees/Aldermen in regard to this and/or related matters. Moreover, I was writing to you seeking your advice in regard what standard/s are being applied in regard to this matter and in regard to collections under Council’s stewardship.
Given that it is reported that the QVMAG’s collections have been assessed to have a value in the order of $230 million, I put it to you that the stewardship falling to Aldermen/Trustees is serious, onerous and non-trivial. Nonetheless, it appears that you, and you on behalf of Council, are disinclined to either acknowledge that there is an issue deserving of your, or even Council’s, consideration or concern at this time. Likewise, it appears that you, and by extension Council, do not see this matter as being anything that’s worthy of your attention.
Therefore I believe that I’m entitled to characterise your/Council’s non-acknowledgement of my correspondence as Council’s acceptance of the status quo as being an example of best practice and offering a satisfactory level of accountability for a public collection held under Council’s stewardship.
Unless advised otherwise by you I will assume that I’m entitled hold and promote that point of view. I look forward to any advice you are able to offer in regard to this matter – to the contrary or otherwise.
Regards,
Ray
Ray Norman <zingHOUSEunlimited> PH: 03-6334 2176
EMAIL 1: raynorman7250@bigpond.com 40 Delamere Crescent Trevallyn TAS. 7250
WEBsite: http://www.raynorman7250.blogspot.com
CLICK HERE: http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/lcc/index.php?c=69
LINK: http://nswmuseumsinquiry.blogspot.com.au/
“A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.” Thomas Paine
“The standard you walk past is the standard you accept ” David Morrison
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Forwarded Message
From: Ray Norman 7250 <raynorman7250@bigpond.com>
Date: Sat, 08 Oct 2016 16:38:48 +1100
To: Albert van Zetten <mayor@launceston.tas.gov.au>, Richard Mulvaney <Richard.Mulvaney@launceston.tas.gov.au>
Subject: Deaccession, standards, the value of things and accountability
Dear Albert & Richard,
Reading yesterday’s reports via FACEbook under the headline “Painting Blue Poles, worth $350m, should be sold to reduce national debt: Senator James Paterson” – http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-07/government's-$350m-painting-'should-be-sold-to-reduce-debt'/7911882 – flushed to the surface my memories of the QVMAG’s so-called “Deaccession Policy” questionably embedded as it is within the QVMAG’s “Collection Policy” – http://www.qvmag.tas.gov.au/upfiles/qvmag/cont/artgallery/07pi011_collection_policy.pdf – and passed by Council June last year.
What I recall most of all was the vociferous protestations against any suggestion that the policy was in any way inadequate or that it failed ‘Best Practice Test’. As I recall it was deemed to be both best practice and appropriate to QVMAG’s needs.
Richard, you will recall it has been demonstrated that essentially the same deaccession and disposal processes allows, and has allowed, material in the QVMAG’s custody, and under its stewardship, to be disposed of and unaccountably. For evidence of my concern June last year I remind you of my Open Letter at the time – see – http://openletter7250-1qvmag.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/qvmag-policy-determination-monday-june.html
You may also recall, to allay the criticism of the so-called “new collection policy” passed by council, you, Richard, gave an undertaking to review that policy if it was found to be inadequate. To my knowledge this has not been done and the policy on the QVMAG Website is clearly the same dysfunctional policy that despite SECTION 65 of Tasmania’s Local Govt. Act 1993 shows no evidence of being framed within the context of “expert advice” - presumably that’s experts with credentials – as required by the Act. If it had been it would be reasonable to expect that ‘best practice’ would be reflected in the the policy and the consequent administrative processes – the latter lacks articulation.
Against this background, and on the available evidence, the QVMAG’s collections are as vulnerable as ever to inappropriate and unaccountable dispersals/deaccession as they were before the so-called policy review over a year ago now. This is very concerning and especially so as neither the Trusteess/Aldermen nor operational management have seen their way clear to address the inadequacies of the policy nor the evident lack relevant of expertise demonstrated in the policies as published on the QVMAG’s website.
I raise the ABC News item now as a demonstration of the potential for such things as ‘political interference’ and the consequent ‘vulnerability of’ cultural property in so-called public collections. It’s especially so in regard to the cultural property held in ‘trust’ in the nation’s ‘public collections’ – the QVMAG’s collections among them.
I look forward to your advice in regard to this matter in a general sense and in regard to what ‘expert advice’ has been sought by, offered to or provided to the Trustees/Aldermen in regard to this and/or related matters in the light of national and interstate developments. Furthermore, I’d appreciate your advice in regard what standard/s are being applied in regard to this matter.
Regards,
Ray
Ray Norman
<zingHOUSEunlimited>
The lifestyle design enterprise and research network
PH: 03-6334 2176
EMAIL 1: raynorman7250@bigpond.com
40 Delamere Crescent Trevallyn TAS. 7250
WEBsite: http://www.raynorman7250.blogspot.com
CLICK HERE: http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/lcc/index.php?c=69
LINK: http://nswmuseumsinquiry.blogspot.com.au/
“A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.” Thomas Paine
“The standard you walk past is the standard you accept ” David Morrison
zHu Electronic Communications Policy.
This email is confidential, and is for the intended recipient only. Access, disclosure, copying, distribution, or reliance on any of it by anyone outside the intended recipients is prohibited and may be a criminal offence. Please delete if obtained in error and email confirmation to the sender. The views expressed in this email are not necessarily the views of zingHOUSEunlimited, unless clearly intended otherwise.
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