Collecting and Collections Management

Full course description

The first session focuses on the psychology of acquisition and collecting. This includes an analysis of what drives "the desire to acquire". It considers emotional as well as psychological factors affecting collecting behaviour, such as competitive behaviour, risk- taking, gambling, addiction, hoarding and a range of emotional and physical responses to external stimuli. There is a consideration of different types of collectors and their range of motivations. The range of possible aims and motivations are linked with opportunities for fundraising and philanthropy and the way in which cultural leaders both enable and activate philanthropic support in the arts. The second day will include an overview of the history of patronage in the arts with a focus on a number of important collections and analysis of what makes they exceptional. The practice of collecting has a long history which can be traced back thousands of years. The third day will develop the theme of public collections with a view as to their societal value, the ethical and moral responsibility for building, maintaining, interpreting and communicating such collections for the public and future generations. Maurice Davies will lead the session with exploration of the Royal Academy Collection - with view of its vision and mission but also practical challenges of managing public collections. Students will also learn more on private collections - both of institution collections such as corporate and personal/individuals’ collections and analyse the associated challenges and risks as well as opportunities of building private collectors and patrons of the arts. On the fourth day, students have the opportunity to attend an evening auction sale will be used to explore both the emotion and psychological characteristics of buying art, and also a distinct acquisition setting for collectors. Students will be exposed to novel models of collecting and collections management which make use of state of new technologies and proposed novel interpretations for understanding of collecting activity as well as engagement with the public collection or museum though a visit to google and focus on google art project. The final keynote lecture will be provided by Tim Marlow, Artistic Director at the Royal Academy of Arts, with an overview of the state of museums today and the direction that public collections (working alongside private patronage and collectors) might develop in the future. The key note lecture will be followed by discussion and debate of the week’s themes.