Collections at risk
From Our Toolkit
Sometimes the safety and security of collections comes under threat. When this happens they are described as ‘at risk’. If you suspect that your collection may be at risk now or in the near future use these tools to decide what to do next to protect it.
There are a number of ways that we define a collection at risk. The diagram outlines the most common:
There are many situations which can cause collections to become at risk. The diagram below outlines what these could be:
How can you assess if your collection is at risk?
The best course of action is to be pro-active and regularly assess the risks associated to your collection. You need to consider:
- What are the threats to your collection?
- Conduct a risk assessment based on these risks
- Evaluate the probability and impact of the risks
- Put into place mitigating factors to reduce / remove the risk
Share Museums East’s Assess and manage risk in collections care resource provides a step by step guide to this process.
The Risk Awareness Profiling Tool can also be used to assess the risk to your organisation and collection.
What to do if you think your collection is at risk?
It is recommended to act sooner rather than later. A number of organisations including Sporting Heritage can support you. Arts Council England along with 16 other sector support agencies, including The National Archives have produced a joint statement outlining their approach and commitment to collections at risk.
