Artefacts set for new home

EXPRESSIONS of interest can now be made for artefacts that were on display in the former River & Rowing Museum.

The foundation trust, which shut the museum in September due to rising costs, has said it is looking for new homes for parts of the collection.

However, this will not include parts of the Henley collection, which tell the history of the town.

Discussions are underway between the trust and Henley Town Council to explore the possibility of a future museum presence in Henley with these objects.

Consequently, about 6,000 objects in the Henley collection will not be part of the initial expressions-of-interest process.

The trust said it is also looking into ways for the Wind in the Willows exhibition to remain in the local area but at this time no decisions have been made.

The trust said it wants to hear from organisations “with a strong public access mission and appropriate long-term care standards” that can take on the remaining objects

It said that, ideally, any transfer will reflect the museum’s four key priorities as follows:

l Long-term public access to the collections.

l Appropriate professional standards of care.

l Keeping the collections together as far as possible.

l Transfer of ownership to organisations constituted in line with museum accreditation (or equivalent for archives).

The trust said that its preferred recipients are “accredited museums, or those actively working towards accreditation”.

Public and not-for-profit bodies and private organisations or individuals will also be considered.

Initial expressions of interest are requested by Friday, February 6. For more information, email curatorial@rrm.co.uk