Sekhemka Export Ban Statement

STATEMENT FROM THE SAVE SEKHEMKA ACTION GROUP
re the TEMPORARY EXPORT BAN FOR THE SEKHEMKA STATUE

 

Following the Temporary Export ban imposed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Save Sekhemka Action Group are campaigning for an agreement whereby the buyer of the internationally important Egyptian Statue,  sold by Northampton Borough Council in 2014,  loans the statue to a major UK Museum where it can be once again placed on public display.

 

We will also continue our investigations into the legality of the original sale.

 

Background to the statement

In July 2014 the then Leader of Northampton Borough Council (NBC), Councillor David Mackintosh [i], defied national and international advice and breached internationally held codes of museum ethics to sell Northampton’s equivalent to the Elgin Marbles, the 4,500 years old statue of the Egyptian Royal Scribe, Sekhemka, by auction at Christie’s in London.  The statue was sold to an unknown overseas buyer who paid a World Record Price of £15.76 million.[ii] 

The Department of Culture, Media and Sports has now clamped a temporary ban on the export of the statue.[iii] Such a temporary ban is meant to help groups who wish to retain the statue in the UK to either raise funds for its purchase, or to come up with other plans to enable the statue to be retained on public display in the UK.

The Save Sekhemka Action Group [SSAG] have opposed the sale since October 2012 when it first became clear that the protests and warnings from the Friends of Northampton Museums & Art Gallery (FNMAG) would be ignored by Cllr Mackintosh and NBC.  FNMAG and the Action Group repeatedly warned that the accreditation of Northampton’s museums would be lost and with it access all outside funding which required accreditation, including the Heritage Lottery Fund.  We were right.  Accreditation was stripped from Northampton’s Museums immediately after the sale and the Borough has already missed out on tens of thousands of pounds in grant funding.[iv]

We objected to the commercial sale of the statue of Sekhemka because it was immoral, unethical and unprofessional.  However, our research also leads us to suggest the legality of the sale is also doubtful.  The Deed of Gift of 1880 under which Sekhemka and other Egyptian artefacts as well as geological collections were given to Northampton Corporation by the 4^th Marquis of Northampton made the gift on condition they were always on display and never sold –in either case the collections would then revert to the Compton family.  Thus Sekhemka  may not even have been NBC’s to sell

Given the very serious legal and ethical questions which continue to cloud the sale of Sekhemka, the Save Sekhemka Action Group intend to tackle the present issue on three fronts:

a) We will NOT be part of ANY fundraising attempt to buy the statue from the present owner.

To do so would be to risk giving legitimacy to similar sales contemplated by other Local Authorities.  Instead we advocate the negotiation of a LONG TERM LOAN of the statue to one of the UK’s major museums where it can be seen at all times by the public and where it will be cared for properly.  We will actively pursue this aim with Arts Council England, the Museums Association, the Art Fund, and all relevant professional museum bodies

 

b) We will also seek to establish once and for all the legality of the sale.

We will do this through our research into the records in Egypt in order to ascertain whether the statue was legally exported in 1850, and into the records of Northampton Borough Council to expose the legal and financial arrangements Cllr Mackintosh reached with the Marquis of Northampton.

 

c) We will also ask DCMS and Arts Council England to investigate whether Northampton Borough Council misled Christie’s as to the true ownership of the statue and whether Christie’s undertook due diligence in accepting the artefact for sale. 

Northampton Borough Council claimed to be the owner of the statue on the sale agreement with Christie’s and a senior NBC Officer signed the agreement to this effect.[v]  However, the Museums Association disciplinary procedure found that the issue of ownership was far from settled and NBC did not indisputably own the statue.[vi] This puts into question the entire legality of the sale. 

 

We ask: 

• What was the deal whereby Lord Northampton agreed not to challenge the sale and agreed to relinquish his legal right to the statue?

 

• Why, when NBC told Christie’s that they owned Sekhemka, signed a sales agreement stating this and paid all the sales fees and premiums, was the Marquis of Northampton then paid over £6 million of public money?[vii]

• Was the £50,000+ which NBC spent on legal expenses in an apparently abortive attempt to show it owned Sekhemka a misuse of public money which in the end only benefited a private individual to the tune of over £6 million?

 

Our determination to get to the bottom of the sale of Sekhemka is re-enforced by the fact that we were advised that we had a case for a Judicial Review. And because our attempts to investigate these matters have been repeatedly frustrated due to what we regard as a spurious application of commercial confidentiality.  Commercial confidentiality cannot apply to the sale of an object owned by the public.  Instead it is an issue of the proper ACCOUNTABILITY OF PERSONS IN PUBLIC OFFICE.

 

The Action Group does appreciate the powerful message sent to museums by ACE and the Museums Association regarding sales from public collections – we hope it will work.  Sadly we think it might be too little too late and it certainly did not help in the Sekhemka case.

 

What is undoubtedly true is that the actions of Councillor Mackintosh and his administration have left the reputation of Northampton in shreds.

 

 

Gunilla Loe

Chair

Save Sekhemka Action Group

sekhemka@gmail.com

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  

[i] Currently Conservative PPC for the Constituency of Northampton South

[ii] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-28257714

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-28428637

  

[iii] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-32117427

  

[iv] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-29903549

  

[v] Sales Agreement released under the Freedom of Information Act

  

[vi] http://www.museumsassociation.org/news/01102014-ma-bars-northampton

  

[vii] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-28260067
 

Spinning Sekhemka

 

No amount of political spinning, or dazzling the press and public with the number of zero's at the end of the auction price, can hide the fact that last night's sale of Sekhemka in Christie's was an entirely avoidable, counter productive, day of shame for Northampton.  A shame compounded by the fact that the decision of one man, taken against all professional advice locally, nationally and internationally has led the world and the people of Egypt in particular, to see Britain as a place which sees Egypt's rich and historic culture as a chip to be bet on and cashed in, not a jewel of human creativity to be shared and cherished.

• We will continue to oppose the turning of Sekhemka into a commodity to be sold on the rich persons equivalent of E-bay, therefore we will oppose the export of the statue from the UK if that is what transpires, whoever the new owner of Sekhemka is.  Particularly if that owner is a private individual who will not put Sekhemka on free public display.  If Sekhemka is not to stay on open display in the UK his only legitimate destination is a public museum in Egypt. 

• We will also continue to expose the way this unethical, unnecessary and short sighted sale was undertaken, the many legal and financial questions which surround the sale and the conduct in public office of those whose mission it became to rob Northampton of both a cultural jewel and its cultural credibility.  We hope the local and national Media will join us in that quest for information and answers.

• We hope the media will also ask Cllr Mackintosh why he insisted on undermining confidence in the Conservative party's core policy in Arts and Culture, promoting philanthropy and donation.  As Alan Moore has pointed out, thanks to the sale of Sekhemka, no-one would dream of donating something valuable to a public museum if at some stage it can be taken away and flogged off to the highest bidder in a commercial fire sale

However, we are where we are and we must respond to the fact that Sekhemka was sold at Christie's for £15,762,500.

Cllr Mackintosh and Northampton Borough Council announced last night that "...it will retain around £8million (55 per cent of the proceeds), while the remainder will be remitted to Lord Northampton (around £6million)."

• What the Council statement did not say was that the auction costs [around 15%] and taxes will be deducted from that figure, and we might also add the over £40,000 of council Tax payers money spent on legal advice to facilitate the sale.  Thus the Council Tax payers of Northampton could see scarcely half of the headline figure spent in the Town, ring fenced or not.

• Equally, while the statement was open about the fact that the Marquis of Northampton will be receiving a windfall of over £5 million, the statement did not enlighten the Council Tax payers of Northampton why, when NBC allegedly "owned" Sekhemka, they will be adding to the fortune of the multimillionaire Marquis and paying for it by becoming pariahs in the museum and heritage world.  Like the Museums Association, we believe that the ownership of Sekhemka was never legally resolved and we will be consulting with colleagues to see if an investigation can be mounted into whether Councillor Mackintosh and Northampton Borough Council misled the public, the media and Christie's by saying they did own the statue.

In the statement Cllr Mackintosh has also attempted to spin his way out of the almost universal condemnation his actions have caused to be dumped on Northampton's name and in particular the likelihood that Northampton will lose its Museums Association accreditation, along with the credibility in museum matters which it has already lost.
His statement says

"Work has already begun on drawing up detailed plans for the [museum]  extension, which will underpin the growth of Northampton’s Cultural Quarter. The Borough Council is in the process of developing a funding package to take the extension forward, including putting together a bid for support from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Council is also continuing to talk to the Arts Council about museum accreditation."

• We are sure it does.  Councillor Mackintosh was explicitly warned by Arts Council England and the Museums Association Ethics Committee that Museums Association accreditation was in severe danger were Sekhemka to be sold and with it access to many significant funding streams to supply the £7-8 million which will still be required to build the still hypothetical museum extension, even with Sekhemka's cultural equivalent of  blood money.

Cllr Mackintosh also said: "This money will allow us to realise our exciting plans for the future of the Museum Service. Every penny is ring-fenced for the Museum Service and we will now make our museum redevelopment plans a reality."

• We would point out that without the commitment to display the cream of all the collections and to hold a research archive curated by the  specialist curatorial staff and teachers who have been made redundant or not replaced, the Museum Service has no future.  Museums exist for their collections held in trust for the future and the expertise to display, describe and bring them to life for visitors and researchers. 

• We would also point out there were no "Museum development plans" when Councillor Mackintosh first wanted to sell Sekhemka [such plans were first mentioned when it became clear that the original plan to allegedly give the money to the Delapre Abbey Trust was a non starter as far as the Museums Association Ethics Committee was concerned.  There still are no such detailed, costed, plans.  Unless you count a cafe and shoe shop with a small gallery space.

Today's spinning is not just political.  It might just be the shade of Sekhemka spinning in his grave, although he might be heartened to know that thousands of people all over the world wanted to treat his beautiful artistic, archaeological legacy with the respect it deserves and demands under national and international ethical codes, and not have him hawked around and flogged off as the bauble to adorn a rich individual or institution.

The only way for Northampton to begin to climb out of the reputational mire into which it has been dropped by Councillor Mackintosh's sale of Sekhemka, is for the Museum Service to be handed back to the professionals who know how to run it ethically and for the good of the Town.  Otherwise we fear that this is the future of our Museums Service

Q:  What do you say to a Northampton Egyptologist?

A:  Two Cappuccino's and a Skinny Latte please

Media Contact  

For further comments, additional material including documents or images or to request interviews with members of the Save Our Sekhemka Action Group team please contact

Andy Brockman 

72 Nithdale Road

LONDON SE18 3PD

 

Telephone:               0208 316 6358                        

Mobile                      07958 543518                              

e-mail:  andyarchaeology@gmail.com

Video showcasing Sekhemka goes online at Christies

A beautiful video, produced in terrible circumstances. If the sale goes ahead, it will be a sad and shameful day for Northampton.

Presentation (on behalf of Sue Edwards) by Judith Hodgkinson to Full (Northampton Borough) Council re Proposed Sale of Sekhemka 2nd June 2014

Judith Hodgkinson, Lecturer, previously employed in Northampton’s Museum Service for 32 years.

The Chair of the Save Sekhemka Action Group, Gunilla Loe, is not absent because of the undue intimidation which has been directed at her, but because she is unavailable tonight.

You are all aware of the background to the proposed sale of Sekhemka on 10th July at Christie’s Auction House in London.

Making a legal case for the sale came after the decision to sell.

Every major museum and arts body opposes the sale on the grounds that it is unethical.  

Should the sale go through, it is almost certain that our Museum will lose Accreditation – the professional equivalent of being struck off – and will not be entitled to any future grants from which it has benefited to the tune of many hundreds of thousands of pounds in the past.

So far NBC has spent over £40,000 to override the 4th Marquis of Northampton’s apparently       watertight deed drawn up for the benefit of local people. 

Councillor Mackintosh says this sale is legal but refuses to show any member of the public the new documentation or agreement drawn up between NBC and the Marquis.  Christie’s response is quote ‘Northampton Borough Council believe they have full title, however, following legal discussions with Lord Northampton an agreement has been reached’ end of quote.  When did the word ‘believe’ become a legal term to use with regard to ownership, and if ownership were clear, why would it need to be a joint agreement?    

The Action Group has asked for the documents to be scrutinized by a qualified legal expert but Councillor Mackintosh refuses.  He also refuses to answer many of our legitimate questions and refers us to Freedom of Information, which still results in unanswered questions or answers extensively redacted. If the new documentation is legal, why all the secrecy?

The sale should be stopped or at the very least postponed for further enquiries as to legality.  Is it appropriate morally and ethically for a public body, charged with proper guardianship of the public purse, to act in this manner?  

The recent announcement in the Chronicle and Echo shows plans for a museum extension costing £14 million.  Even if the sale were to go ahead, if the Council is no longer eligible for grants, where will the rest of the money come from?   

Presentation by Ruth Thomas at Full (Northampton Borough) Council re Proposed Sale of Sekhemka

Ruth Thomas (Chair of Northamptonshire Ancient Egyptian Society)

   

 Much has been said about the proposed sale of Sekhemka; I would like to spend a few minutes outlining some consequences:

If moral and ethical considerations mean nothing to Councillor Mackintosh then I ask you to consider this. The sale of Sekhemka will yield only a portion of the cost of the proposed new museum. The recent announcement in the Chronicle and Echo showed plans for the extended museum, costing £14,000,000.

Our group has received an email this weekend from the National Art Fund which reads as follows: QUOTE  "Regardless of the final sale amount, due to the nature of the split with Lord Northampton and the need to pay a buyer’s premium, the Museum would only gain less than half of the total amount [raised] towards its planned works. Even without the ethical considerations, this sale therefore seems an ineffective route to pursue for long-term financial gain." UNQUOTE

The bulk of the finance needed for the museum would normally come from grants through government organisations which support heritage and museums. However, since the Museums Association and Arts Council have made it clear in the national press that Northampton Museum will lose its accreditation if the sale takes place, there will be no possibility of applying for a grant. Northampton Museum will simply not get the funding.

The proposed sale of Sekhemka is a bad move for Northampton Museum and not only because it makes Northampton Museum a pariah in the professional world of museums and heritage. It doesn’t even make financial sense ! The money raised from the proposed sale will be heavily outweighed by the loss of grants and financial support from government organisations. 

The Arts Council acknowledge the seriousness of the situation QUOTE: “We recognise through their actions that Northampton Borough Council does not care about losing accreditation” and that as a result of the proposed sale they say “grants and placements will not be possible in the future.” QUOTE

I would like to place on record this clear statement that the development of the museum and its collections are now under serious threat.

One Year On... Saving Sekhemka

One Year On – what happened next in the Save Sekhemka Campaign:

... well, as far as the Save Sekhemka Action Group knows the statue is still at its secret Northampton Borough Council (NBC) location and UNSOLD!

Sadly it is also impossible for a member of the public to view the statue despite several requests. We doubt that this is legal since any member of the public has a right to see any item in a museum collection unless it is too fragile. Sekhemka is not fragile nor are the insurance conditions imposed on NBC by their insurers such that extra security is needed to see it.

The Action Group would rather have the statue, the rest of the Egyptian collection and the Mineral collection back on display in the town’s museums in accordance with the conditions set out in the Deed of Gift of 1880; our campaign will continue until this happens.

The Deed of Gift was published in the June issue of the Museums Journal when Lord Northampton made it available to them. It is still the subject of legal wrangling between Lord Northampton and NBC. 

The Action Group interprets the Deed as either being a Charitable Gift held in trust by NBC for the people of Northampton or a Long Term Loan with Conditions. 

In the first case NBC cannot sell it unless the Charity Commission should be very lenient, in the second the collections would revert to Lord Northampton since NBC has not complied with the conditions. The Action Group has researched all of the above information and ensured that it was made public. We have also alerted the Art Loss Register and the Export Licensing Board to ensure none of the collections go abroad. 

This ALL means that NO reputable auction house will agree to sell either Sekhemka or any part of the collections.

The publicity the Action Group has created has spread and NBC and its actions are now cited worldwide as an example not to be followed. Is this what a town aspiring to city status should be proud of?

One year on ... the Action Group has STOPPED THE SALE and created an impasse for NBC. Not bad for half a dozen people with no funding but fired by enthusiasm and quietly backed by various cultural organisations nationwide. The campaign goes on so please support us, write to your councillor, ask to see the statue and keep an eye on our website (www.sekhemka.co.uk) for the latest developments.

Gunilla Loe
Chair, Save Sekhemka Action Group

July 15th 2013 Submission in Support of the Redisplay of Sekhemka

The following statement was delivered at the council meeting on July 15th by SSAG:

"My name is Ruth Thomas and I am deputy Chair of the Save Sekhemka Action Group. I speak in support of the motion to redisplay the statue of Sekhemka.

Northampton Museum needs some good news ! The last year has not been a good one for the museum. The bad publicity surrounding the proposed sale of Sekhemka has given the museum national and international notoriety. The reputation of Northampton Museum has been tarnished.

The reasons put forward by the council for the removal of the statue from display include the expense of insuring it. However, a Freedom of Information request to the council has  revealed that the insurance cover in 2010, the year when Sekhemka was still ondisplay, was actually lower than it had been previously. Furthermore, no additional security arrangements were imposed by the insurers.

The Friends of the Museum have already offered £8,000 towards the purchase of an even more secure display case.

If the morality of the decision to sell were not enough, the legality has now become the key issue. The Deed of Gift of 1880 has strict provisos regarding the collection and preventing its disposal.

For nearly three years the statue of Sekhemka has not been displayed and, even worse, no member of the public has been allowed to see it. This is in contravention of the 1880 Deed of Gift which states that it be “accessible to the public at all proper times”.

This council has been accused of not listening to people. A change of heart would not be regarded as a sign of weakness but an indication that common sense has prevailed. A large body of informed opinion supports the redisplay of Sekhemka – he is now known throughout the world. There is no other object in Northampton Museum which receives such popular attention.

His redisplay would attract many visitors to Northampton Museum from within and outside the town. There would be a vast amount of really good publicity for Northampton Museum and a reawakening of interest in the ancient Egyptian collection - and the Borough Council would be respected for its good judgement."

The motion was defeated. Three people spoke in favour of the redisplay but the motion was defeated by a Conservative majority. The leader of the council David Mackintosh said that the council are determined to auction the statue as soon as possible.

The fight goes on.

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

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

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.

SUBMISSION TO OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE, NORTHAMPTON BOROUGH COUNCIL, 24 SEPT 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.

1. One argument which has been advanced as important in the decision to sell off Sekhemka is that it is “not part of Northampton’s heritage”. The statue has strong local connections. The 2nd Marquess of Northampton acquired it and his son lent the statue to the newly opened Northampton Museum. Alwynne Compton, son of the 2nd Marquess was Chair of the first Museum Committee without which Northampton Museum would not exist as it does today. The Northampton family were generous lenders and donors of much of the founding collections of Northampton Museum.

2.  Sekhemka has iconic status in Northampton Museum. Until two years ago he had been on display in the museum for longer than any other exhibit, at least ninety years and probably more. The statue is not only a part of ancient Egypt but also an art object and a social history object and has been displayed as such. He is well known to visitors. In fact, such is his importance that he is the icon chosen on Northampton Borough Council’s website to represent the archaeology collections at Northampton Museum.

3. Northampton Museum, like most local museums in the country, has wide ranging collections, and this is its strength. Exhibitions can be varied and pertinent to prevailing interests in society. Sekhemka has been at the centre of various exhibitions devoted to egyptology  - always a popular subject with the general public. 

4. On a wider point the breadth of Northampton Museum’s collections is what gives it such appeal to local people. The beauty of the art collections, the quality of the ceramics and the antiquity of Sekhemka and the egyptology collection provide an exciting kaleidoscope of our human heritage.

5. Finally, Northampton Museum is not just a shoe museum or even a social history museum of shoe makers in the  industry’s active period.  If this is the policy of the council then such a museum should be  called “The Shoe Museum”.  If Northampton Museum specialises only in shoes its appeal will be much more limited especially to local residents who increasingly have less connection with the shoe industry  and who need and want a far broader canvas of collections in their local museum.