This Collection Policy sets out the principles guiding how The Gong Museum & Heritage Park acquires, documents, preserves, and manages the objects in its care. Our collection exists to preserve the history, heritage, traditions, and achievements of Arondizuogu, Igboland, Nigeria, and Africa for present and future generations.
1. Purpose of the Collection
The Museum collects, preserves, and interprets objects of cultural, historical, artistic, and educational significance. Our collection supports research, education, exhibition, and the cultural renewal of the communities we serve.
2. Scope of the Collection
The Museum collects materials including, but not limited to:
- Historical artefacts, traditional instruments, and ceremonial objects.
- Documents, manuscripts, maps, newspapers, and books.
- Photographs, oral histories, audio recordings, and video recordings.
- Artworks, sculptures, textiles, and crafts.
- Digital archives and other heritage materials relevant to our mission.
3. Methods of Acquisition
Objects may enter the collection through donation, bequest, loan, purchase, or field collection. All acquisitions are subject to review and approval by the Museum’s Collections Team to ensure they align with our mission and meet ethical and legal standards.
4. Ethical Acquisition
The Museum acquires only objects with clear and lawful provenance. We do not knowingly acquire items that have been stolen, illegally exported, or unethically obtained. We respect the cultural and spiritual significance of sacred and sensitive objects and handle them with appropriate care and consultation.
5. Donations and Loans
We welcome donations, loans, and bequests of relevant materials. Permanent donations become part of the Museum’s collection. Items accepted on loan are governed by a written agreement specifying the terms, duration, and conditions of the loan. Donors are encouraged to provide as much historical context and documentation as possible.
6. Documentation and Preservation
All accepted objects are catalogued, documented, and assigned a unique record. We store and conserve materials according to professional preservation standards, taking into account the specific needs of each object type.
7. Access and Use
The Museum aims to make its collection accessible for exhibition, research, and education, subject to preservation requirements and any conditions attached to specific objects. Access to certain sensitive or fragile materials may be restricted.
8. Deaccessioning
In limited circumstances, the Museum may remove an object from its permanent collection (deaccessioning), for example where an item is duplicated, falls outside our mission, or can no longer be adequately preserved. Deaccessioning is carried out responsibly, ethically, and in line with the Museum’s governance procedures.
9. Memorial and Family Deposits
The Museum welcomes memorial donations made in honour of individuals, families, and community leaders, as well as family records entrusted to us for preservation and the benefit of future generations.
10. Contact
To discuss a donation, loan, or any matter relating to our collection, please contact the Collections Team:
Email: thegong@yahoo.com | Phone: +234 805 1090 050, +234 701 669 3333