Collections management

We provide tailored solutions to help manage collections of cultural and heritage materials. We work with public and private organisations as well as individuals to deliver holistic systems suited to the collection.

Services include

  • Policies & procedures
  • Collection assessments
  • Storage assessments
  • Storage planning
  • CMS consulting
  • Rehousing projects

At ICS, our collection management services are designed to address the unique needs of cultural and heritage collections. Our experienced team of professionals collaborates closely to develop customised solutions that optimise the care, accessibility, and longevity of valuable cultural heritage.

Our team works closely with clients to understand a collection and create customised solutions, developing and implementing policies and procedures that align with international standards and best practices. Our collection and storage assessments provide a thorough evaluation of your collection's condition, significance, and overall management. We assess the physical condition, documentation practices, and storage conditions of individual items or the entire collection. Our assessments help identify areas of improvement, prioritise conservation needs, and inform decision-making for collection care and planning.

Collection Management System (CMS) consulting: Our experienced team provides expert CMS consulting to help you select, implement, and optimise CMS platforms that align with your specific requirements. A CMS is essential for cataloguing, tracking, and managing collection information. Our team offers guidance on data migration, system customisation, and training to ensure a smooth transition and efficient use of your CMS.

Benefits of collection management include:

Efficient and organised: Effective collection management is essential to any collecting body and ensures all items are correctly documented making items easier to locate and retrieve for scholarship or display purposes.

Supports conservation efforts: Ensuring items are properly stored, handled, and maintained ensures the preservation of collection items and increases their lifespan.

Optimises storage space: It can help collection bodies to optimise their storage space while enhancing safety and security, reducing the risk of theft, vandalism, or loss. 

Contact us to discuss your collection management needs and let us provide tailored services that enhance the organisation, preservation, and accessibility of your collection.

Collections are usually collated under a Collection Management System (CMS). We would assess your current collection documentation and determine which of the CMS on offer, either cloud based or dedicated PC options, would best suit your needs. We then help in the process of data migration, often cleaning up the data in the process.

We work with a range of CMS providers and are happy to give advice on the process of choosing the system best suited to your needs. Once you've invested in your new CMS we can assist with the migration process itself.

To give advice on organisation and storage we need to physically assess your collection. All advice offered takes into account optimal temperature needs, relative humidity, light, pest activity, water ingress and protection from mould. We also offer collection monitoring where we are able to give advice and direction based off the current conditions of your collections housing.

Talk to us

Passionate about conserving art and cultural heritage

Our expert team would love to help you find solutions to your conservation and heritage needs. Get in touch today.