Overview

This bill amends the British Museum Act 1963, allowing the transfer of artifacts from the British Museum to other institutions under certain conditions. The Trustees of the British Museum can voluntarily transfer items, and the Secretary of State can mandate transfers in specific circumstances.

Description

The bill adds clauses to the 1963 Act, creating two pathways for artifact transfers:

Voluntary Transfers

The Trustees of the British Museum gain the power to transfer artifacts to another institution for public exhibition. They must consider factors such as public access at the receiving institution, the impact on Museum visitors, the artifact's condition and rarity, and potential risks. The recipient institution must consent and cover all transfer costs.

Mandatory Transfers

The Secretary of State can compel the Trustees to transfer artifacts if they believe the artifact would be:

• More accessible to the public at the receiving institution.
• More appropriately displayed due to historical links with the receiving institution's region.
• Better off not remaining in the Museum's collection due to the circumstances of its acquisition.

Before mandating a transfer, the Secretary of State must consult with the Trustees and consider the same factors as those applying to voluntary transfers. The recipient institution must still consent and cover all transfer costs.

Government Spending

The bill does not directly allocate funds. Any costs associated with artifact transfers will be borne by the recipient institutions.

Groups Affected

• The British Museum: Potentially loses artifacts from its collection, impacting its exhibitions and research capabilities.
• Other Museums and Institutions: May gain artifacts, enriching their collections and potentially increasing visitor numbers.
• The Secretary of State: Gains power to intervene in the management of the British Museum's collection.
• The Public: May experience increased or altered access to artifacts, depending on where they are transferred.
• Source Countries of Artifacts: This may impact the repatriation of artifacts to their countries of origin, though the bill doesn't explicitly address repatriation.

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