COLLECTIONS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 1. Introduction For well over a century The Robert Gordon University, its component Schools and predecessor institutions have played a vital role in the cultural life of Aberdeen and the North East of Scotland. The University has among its roles a responsibility to enhance the cultural life not only of its students, staff and visitors but also of the wider community. Important elements in this are the staging of exhibitions and events and the safeguarding of our material heritage. Investment in stimulating public art is a further crucial element as the University seeks to consolidate its estate on the Garthdee campus; it is integral to the development of a campus with a distinct identity and to its promotion as a recreational and cultural amenity, as well as ensuring a legacy for future generations. The current development of the Estates and Buildings Master plan provides an unparalleled opportunity to take this forward. The aim of this paper is to set out how the University can continue to expand its existing Collections in order to better fulfil its vital cultural role. 2. Collecting Area The collecting area of the University Collection is defined in paragraph 4.1 of the Acquisition and Disposal Policy[1]: “The Collecting Area for the University Collection will be defined not in terms of geographical boundary, but rather by association with the University and its predecessor institutions including its past and present staff and students, and the areas of historical, scientific, technical and other academic endeavour to which the University and its predecessor institutions have contributed. In addition items may on occasion be added to the Collection for purely aesthetic reasons or for their significance in terms of the history of Aberdeen and North East Scotland.” In accordance with this Policy the University seeks to expand the Collection by acquiring: (i) Artefacts coming under this definition (ii) Quality art works, including but not limited to, drawings, paintings, prints, photographic works, sculptures, installations, video and digital media: by current and former staff and students, in particular those works which represent the highest standards of skill in their execution, are highly innovative in their conceptual development and/or reflect cultural relevance in terms of contemporary creative practices by artists with significant connection to Aberdeen and North East Scotland which as public art enhance and enrich the buildings and environs of the University
-
(iii) Quality architectural drawings, models and related material.
[1]
http://www.rgu.ac.uk/library/resources/page.cfm?pge=27608
In expanding the Collection the emphasis shall be on quality rather than quantity. 3. Funding The University has over the years built an important Collection of art works and artefacts. In recent times the resources for expanding the Collection have been modest. From the mid-1990‟s an amount drawn from a Faculty of Design and Technology budget was set aside each year for the purchase of works from the Gray‟s School of Art Degree show.[2] Monies paid to students were intended to cover the material element of the work and not necessarily to reflect its true market value. This fund has not been renewed for a number of years and it is now exhausted. It is crucial therefore that the University urgently considers the future resourcing of investment in public art. [3] The following proposals are made with respect to funding: 3.1 Annual budget for purchases of student work An annual sum of £15,000 should be provided from central funds facilitate the practice of acquiring student work from the Art and Architecture Degree and Postgraduate shows under fair and reasonable terms. Works purchased shall become part of the University Collection and be managed in accordance with the applicable policies and procedures. 3.2 Annual purchase fund budget A minimum annual sum of £50,000 should be set aside from central funds for the maintenance of the Collection and for the purchase of public art. This will be reviewed in the light of changing circumstances and the effects of inflation. 3.3 Percent for Art scheme Percent for art schemes are an internationally recognised mechanism whereby a percentage of the estimated cost of capital projects is reserved to be spent on public art. Percent for art schemes are widespread and operate at many levels; they can be found for example in Universities in the USA[4] and at National levels in countries such as Ireland[5] and Sweden. In the UK many Borough Councils encourage developers to set aside a percent for art allocation and a percent for art scheme has been in operation at the University of Surrey for three years. The University of Aberdeen has recently committed to the development of its Collection and has implemented a percent for art scheme. It is recommended that the University establishes a „percent for art scheme‟ whereby 1% of the total approved project cost of capital building projects in excess of £1 million, up to a maximum £200,000 in percent for art funds, shall be set aside for art works to complement the building and environs. Normally
[2] [3]
Since 2001 the annual expenditure has ranged from £1440 to £1950. Funding for the preservation and conservation of works is currently drawn from Carnegie Trust monies administered by the University Library.
[4]
See for example http://web.mit.edu/lvac/www/percent/ and http://smcp.vcbf.berkeley.edu/policies/percentart.htm [5] http://www.arts-sport-tourism.gov.ie/pdfs/English-text5.pdf
2
the allocation shall be linked to the particular building project; however allocations from several smaller projects may be pooled towards larger campus projects. New construction, retrofit, renovation, and remodelling projects shall be included. Maintenance and equipment projects shall be excluded. Changes in project cost that occur during the subsequent course of project design and construction will not affect the size of the „percent for art‟ allocation. Ten percent of each „percent for art‟ allocation will be budgeted for project contingencies and miscellaneous costs including costs associated with sourcing art works. 3.4 Donations Monetary donations and bequests from private and public partners should be actively sought by the University, with donors being appropriately acknowledged in relation to art works purchased. Future Alumni appeals, for example, might include a separate „Public Art‟ category as an option for donors. It is recommended that in the University‟s development activities that a project be established with the express purpose of seeking donations of quality art works and funds to purchase art. 3.5 Sales Under certain circumstances it may be appropriate to generate purchase funds as a result of sales. These circumstances and the relevant procedures are set out in the Acquisition and Disposal Policy. 3.6 Rental Under some circumstances it may be desirable to rent rather than purchase art for display in the University. The Aberdeen Art Gallery, for example administers a rented art program and its excellent Collection contains works by Gray‟s students and staff and other artists of interest to the University. Equally, the University may wish to rent works from its Collection to external clients, the proceeds of which will be devoted to the maintenance and development of the Collection. 3.7 Public Funds The Scottish Executive is committed to an active cultural policy which identifies a special role for Universities in the promotion, development and curator-ship of Scottish art and other cultural activities. The University will seek to position itself strongly to benefit from public funds to develop and care for its Collection and its exhibition. This is a particular responsibility of the officer who is deemed responsible for the Collection. 4. Procedural matters An existing framework is in place for the selection of student work to be purchased from the Art and Architecture Degree and Postgraduate shows. Works are selected by the Dean of the Faculty of Design and Technology, the Head of Gray‟s School of Art and the Head of the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and the Built Environment. In future it shall be the responsibility of the officer of the University responsible for the management of the University Collection to manage this process and to convene this selection committee as appropriate.
3
A Purchase Group shall be formed from members appointed by the Principal to manage the Purchase Fund. Where a proposed purchase exceeds £5000 the proposal shall be reviewed by the Collections Sub-Committee and recommendations forwarded to the Estates and Buildings Committee for approval and final ratification. The Collections Sub-Committee shall be informed by the Director of Estates at the earliest opportunity when projects to which the percent for art scheme applies are in the planning stage. Proposals for the procurement of public art using percent for art monies shall be sought from the Purchase Group. Proposals will normally be for procurement by competition, however proposals for procurement by direct invitation, commission or purchase shall also be considered. Where relevant these proposals shall include potential sites. Proposals shall be reviewed by the Collections Sub-Committee. The Collections Sub-Committee shall consult as necessary with architects, project managers etc. The Collections Sub-Committee shall forward its recommendations to the Estates and Buildings Committee for approval and final ratification. In the case of competitions the Collections Sub-Committee shall oversee the determination of the terms and conditions and parameters of the project and the appointment of a Selection Committee to include the Convenor of the Collections Sub-Committee. The Selection Committee shall forward its recommendations to the Estates and Buildings Committee for approval and final ratification. In connection with all purchases including commissions there shall be liaison with the officer of the University responsible for the management of the University Collection, who as necessary shall consult the University‟s Legal Adviser, to ensure that copyright is licensed or assigned as necessary, and due consideration shall be given to the long term care and preservation of the work.
DR ADRIAN GRAVES University Secretary 24 February 2006
4