Information about collections, conservation and restoration, image licensing, loans and valuations.
Collections
Our collections are available to view by appointment. If you have any questions our collections, the historic house or our Founders please contact us.
You can view some of our art collections online on the Art UK website. You can view our musical instrument collection on the Minim UK website.
For enquires regarding the history of Bournemouth please contact the Heritage Zone at Bournemouth Library.
Donating to the Collections
The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum exists due to the generosity of our Founders and countless other donors over the years.
We are always seeking to enhance our collections as defined by our Collections Development Policy. If you would like to make a donation or remember us in your will please contact us.
Disposals from the Collections
In order to manage its collections responsibly and sustainably the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum has set itself a pro-active strategy of collection material disposal. Our Collections Development Policy identifies the material we are seeking to dispose of and the associated processes of de-accession and disposal.
The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum will always keep to sector best practice as defined by the Museums Association. Every effort will be made to keep disposed material in the public domain with sale at auction used only as a last resort. We will not gift or sell disposed material to private individuals under any circumstances.
Items currently undergoing the disposal process are posted here. Each proposed disposal is supported by an associated Disposal Report which is available on request.
Loans
The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum only lends to other ACE Accreditation Scheme members and their foreign equivalents. Loans to such bodies in the UK are free but the borrower is expected to meet all associated costs including conservation, insurance, packing, couriering and transportation. Approval for all loans is subject to satisfactory completion of a UK Registrars Group Facilities report.
There is an additional fee for loans outside of the UK which reflects the increased risk and cost to the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum. Within the European Union this fee is £3,000. Outside of the EU the fee is £5,000. The fee is payable in advance of the loan and is in addition to the usual costs borne by the borrower.
All loan requests must be made at least six months in advance and put in writing. It is highly advisable for borrowing institutions to contact the Curator to discuss a loan request before making one. Please contact us for further details.
Image Licensing
We can licence images from our collections for publication and other uses. Please contact us and consult our list of licence fees here.
If we don’t already have a publication quality image of an object we will commission one for you at your cost. Please note that the Russell-Cotes will retain ownership of the image.
Exhibitions
The Russell-Cotes programmes a range of special exhibitions which draw on and reflect the themes of our rich and diverse collections and deliver our Business Plan targets. Please note that we do not have a gallery venue for hire.
You may want to contact Bournemouth Arts Development. They may be able to arrange gallery space for you at Bournemouth Library or advise you on other venues that you could approach.
Conservation and Restoration
We are not able to make recommendations regarding the repair or conservation of artefacts. We suggest that you use the ICON Conservation Register to find an approved professionally-qualified conservator-restorer.
Valuations
As Museum professionals, our role is to encourage public appreciation of the cultural rather than the financial value of items. We are unable to offer valuations. Should you need a valuation, we recommend that you contact the National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers for an independent opinion.
Contact Us
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
East Cliff Promenade
Bournemouth
BH1 3AA
For any further enquiries, please contact us on:
+44 (0)1202 128000 (during opening hours)
Email: russellcotes@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
