Sir, – It is with great concern that the Irish Museums Association has learned through the media ("Russborough House old masters for auction", April 30th) of plans by the Alfred Beit Foundation to sell paintings from the Russborough House collection.
Like our sister organisations in Europe, we believe that de-accessioning of material from collections held in trust on behalf of the public should only occur in the most exceptional circumstances and in compliance with the code of ethics of the International Council for Museums (ICOM).
The Heritage Council’s Museum Standards Programme for Ireland also sets out the circumstances in which collections can be disposed of and the procedures which should be followed.
The Irish Museums Association would like to seek confirmation from the Alfred Beit Foundation that these guidelines are being followed in the case of the proposed disposal of these remarkable and unique paintings.
Institutions like Russborough need to be supported in their role as guardians of collections held in trust. Any breach or erosion of that trust will be hugely damaging to both the sector and the cultural life of the nation.
We are particularly concerned of the precedent set for other institutions that may find themselves in financial difficulties and that may be instructed to treat their collections as a realisable asset. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN CROWLEY,
Chairman,
GINA O’KELLY,
Director of Operations,
Irish Museums Association,
Ground Floor,
St Stephen’s Green House,
Earlsfort Terrace,
Dublin 2.