The River & Rowing Museum in Henley-upon-Thames has issued a sector-wide call for expressions of interest for the ethical transfer of its collections, following the museum’s closure to the public in September.
The museum is inviting approaches from accredited museums, organisations working towards accreditation, and other public or not-for-profit bodies capable of providing long-term public access and appropriate standards of collections care.
The now-closed River & Rowing Museum. BOTH PHOTOS: RRM
According to the museum, a combination of inflationary pressures, rising operating costs and significant capital requirements has made continued occupation of its Henley site unviable. As a result, the board has initiated a structured disposal and transfer process, in line with established museum-sector ethical guidance.
A spokesperson for the River & Rowing Museum said the decision to close had been exceptionally difficult, but stressed that the priority is securing a sustainable future for the collections. “We are committed to ensuring objects remain accessible to the public, cared for to appropriate standards, and, wherever possible, kept together in meaningful groupings,” they said.
Expressions of interest are welcomed for whole collections or substantial parts of the holdings, although proposals for individual objects will also be considered. One exception is the museum’s handling collection, which is excluded from the process due to its ongoing use in outreach and education work.
The Henley collection, which has strong local significance, is being considered separately and will not be offered during this initial phase. Around 300 objects within that collection are on loan from the local council and will remain in its ownership.
The museum is seeking expressions of interest for its collections.
The museum emphasised the importance of maintaining the integrity of collection groupings, particularly where provenance or narrative cohesion is involved. Decision-making will be guided by recognised ethical principles and undertaken in consultation with sector bodies and funders.
While the museum building itself is currently for sale, this process is being managed independently of the collections transfer. Off-site storage is available should a rapid exit from the building be required, and the logistics and costs associated with moving objects will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
Museums and eligible organisations are encouraged to contact [email protected] for an informal discussion ahead of submitting a formal expression of interest. Submissions are requested by February 6, with final decisions to be made by the board of trustees following curatorial and professional consultation.
