Museum Attitudes to Sekhemka

In our campaign to stop the sale of Sekhemka the Action Group has contacted various large and prestigious museums.  We asked them to write in to request a view of the statue for research purposes.  We had hoped for replies or at least some encouragement in our campaign but...
So far we have had three replies:

One from Leicester saying they cannot get involved because they were commissioned by NBC to write a report on the “Significance of Sekhemka”; they cannot let us have a copy because they do not own the copyright.  NBC has refused our FoI request because we have “overspent” our allocated time and money on this subject!

One reply from Birmingham which is positive and they will try to obtain access – thank you and GOOD LUCK!
The final reply came from the British Museum’s Egyptian and Sudan Department. The say  their present research does not include this period of Egypt so they will not ask for access, nor do they wish to get involved due to the iffy ownership.

What about the rest of our UK museums?  Those we have contacted and those yet to be e-mailed – do you not care about this issue?  We know that every museum in the country has funding issues but selling off collections is surely the very LAST resort? Especially if one does not know if one OWNS the object?

No doubt the museum world is glad that a 69 year old grandmother and her colleagues are fighting this battle to set a precedent without endangering museum money BUT you could help!

Please help us by telling us WHERE – in addition to the British Museum and Lord Northampton’s archives – we can find reliable information on the 2nd Marquess’ Egyptian Collection and its “life” in particular the periods 1870 – 1880 and 1880 – 1899.

This may seem a parochial matter but it will ultimately affect ALL of you: Local Authority run establishments as well as the giant trusts. 

DO SOMETHING!

Gunilla Loe, Chair

Initial Results of NBC's Consultation on Sekhemka

Recently, some early details regarding the responses to Northampton Borough Council's consultation were made public. This action group have already released full details of their survey available on this site. NBC's results were published here: http://www.northampton-news-hp.co.uk/News/Council-looks-to-maximise-statue-sale-profit-20121207140000.htm

Councillor Brandon Eldred claims with elation in this article that a majority of 173 people favour selling Sekehmka and using the money for heritage projects, possibly the Cultural Quarter, and quotes again how far £2m will go.  It seems that NBC and Cllr Eldred have no understanding of the difficulties in selling something to which one cannot claim legal title.

During our campaign we have often queried WHO has title to Sekhemka and now we have been told, as a result of a FoI request, that there have been legal discussions between Lord Northampton and his legal team and NBC’s legal team on the ownership issue. Lord Northampton has since told us that these discussions are now at a temporary halt while NBC takes Counsel’s advice.  (Will the payment for this advice come out of the already meagre museum budget ?) So without proper legal title to the statue it is pointless to speculate on how to spend the eventual sale money.

Another reply to a FoI request has revealed that when NBC’s present insurance provider had the museum collections re-valued in 2010, including the high value of Sekhekma, they did NOT ask for extra display or security measures.  Therefore the statue can and should go back on display for the benefit of the people of Northampton.

Citing security reasons is invalid since the ONLY people who have revealed the value of Sekhemka time and time again in press and local media are NBC staff or NBC Councillors.

The statue was placed in the care of the museums to benefit Northampton’s people, until legal title is established without doubt the Central Museum is where it should be – NOW.

Gunilla Loe, Chair, Save Sekhemka Action Group  and Chair, FNMAG

Sekhemka Action Group Survey Results Published

The Save Sekhemka Action Group have today published the results of their survey on the proposed sale of the Sekhemka statue.

In summary, the survey received 80 responses of which around half were resident in Northamptonshire with half from institutions and individuals across the world.

The respondents to this survey show overwhelming support for protecting the museum's accredited status and keeping the statue.

You can read the results of the survey here:

You can view a copy of the survey questions here:

If you have any queries, questions or comments, please do get in touch sekhemka@gmail.com

Museums Association Say NBC Consultation Inadequate

The Museums Association told last week how the consultation completed by Northampton Borough Council was anything but the "extensive and full consultation" it had recommended in advice given several months ago.

The Museums Association website has more information here: http://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/01122012-consultation-into-sale-provokes-criticism

A recent article in Northampton's Herald and Post details that 172 responses were received with a report being prepared for the council to consider next steps. Sadly, Councillor Brandon Eldred was quoted as saying "we are keen to sell the statue for as much money as possible", demonstrating that the full implications of losing accredited status and the impact on the museum's future is still not fully understood. The article is linked below.

http://www.northampton-news-hp.co.uk/News/Council-looks-to-maximise-statue-sale-profit-20121207140000.htm

This action group completed their own survey, the results of which will be available soon.

Action Group Launches Own Survey on Proposed Sale of Sekhemka

The Save Sekhemka Action Group disapproves of the current NBC consultation document on the outcome of the sale of the Egyptian funerary statue, Sekhemka.

As an Action Group we welcome consultation but this document is slanted in favour of the money going to Delapre Abbey; the laudable plans for three museum alternatives are far too vague to inspire confidence.

In order to get a better picture of the public’s opinion the Action Group hereby launches its OWN survey; it does take NBC’s views into account but also offers an opportunity for sensible and detailed answers. Please read it and reply to it making your views clear in the comment boxes.

We will forward the result of the survey to NBC and ensure it gets publicised in the media.

We need a sensible debate on this issue and the Action Group welcomes a solution that enables the Central Museum to retain Sekhemka as well as expanding/improving museum premises in Guildhall Road and at Abington. There are many solutions – selling is NOT necessarily one of them.

So please make your voice heard. This survey will stay open until 30th November.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WXXCX93

Please Send Your Comments!

Please leave your comments here - we want to hear if you have any memories of the statue, if you have seen it or want to see it, if you are for or against the sale or any thoughts at all on the wider implications of the proposed sale for Northampton and the museum.

We want to hear from you!

Click here to leave your comments: http://sekhemka.blogspot.co.uk/p/contact.html

SUBMISSION TO CABINET CONCERNING SALE OF SEKHEMKA, NORTHAMPTON BOROUGH COUNCIL, 3 OCT 2012

My name is Ruth Thomas and I am Chair of Northamptonshire Ancient Egyptian Society. I speak both in this role and as a museum professional.

Northampton is one of the largest towns in the UK and has a diverse and cosmopolitan population. We are proud of this diversity and keen to celebrate it.

In fact, even when the town itself shied away from promoting ethnic groups other than its own host population Northampton Museum collected widely from across the world and was at the forefront in providing expression to this multi-ethnicity.

Our collections have been drawn from the four corners of the earth, whether it be the superb Chinese pottery horse of the Tang dynasty, the Hindu sculpture of Devi or the Italian renaissance paintings. For over a century the museum has not been small-minded and parochial in its collecting policy but aware of its role in promoting Northampton’s multi-cultural approach in a multi-cultural town.

And this is why the sale of the ancient Egyptian scribe Sekhemka is  such a retrograde step.
Sekhemka stands alone in its quality, antiquity and craftsmanship. It is part of a civilisation which existed on the continent of Africa for over two thousand years. For children of African and African Caribbean heritage this is unique opportunity to reconnect with their own roots and to understand that Northampton Museum has something which represents not only British history but encompasses the achievements of people from across the world.

It also gives the message that Northampton Museum is aware of its role in educating and inspiring all the people of the town – as one school pupil said to me as he admired Sekhemka on a group trip for the National Curriculum “Oh I didn’t know you did Egypt”. Well, we should do Egypt and a whole lot more.
The removal of Sekhemka from the museum is a dramatic and signal move away from a world view of our history to a small-minded and elitist approach which will inevitably alienate our visitors and supporters in the years to come. This is what really concerns all of us here tonight.