As part of a series of projects to safeguard their collections, Mortice were brought in to support Hartlepool Museums and Archives address the challenge faced by many cultural organisations – how to increase efficiencies and improve collections storage while still supporting operational needs.
Our role was to help identify realistic, proportionate opportunities to improve collections care, mitigate risk and ensure that storage provision can support both current use and future growth, without compromising operational needs or sustainability.
Our Approach
Partnering with highly qualified and skilled preventive conservation experts from Spencer and Fry, and drawing on our experience across national and regional museums and archives, we assessed the existing collections storage and identified practical opportunities for improving efficiencies. Our approach focused on balancing recognised professional standards with a pragmatic understanding of the collections, available space and operational practicalities.
We reviewed current storage conditions, environmental risks and overall capacity, taking a collections‑led approach. Storage provision was considered against recognised benchmarks, including Museum and Archive Accreditation requirements and relevant British Standards, with risks and priorities assessed in the context of the materials held and the realities of operating within finite space and resources.
Our work considered both environmental conditions and spatial capacity, assessing how effectively existing storage protected collections and opportunities for improvements. Future growth was a key consideration, recognising the impact that insufficient storage can have on proactive collecting, research and learning activities. By addressing collections care, space planning and operational risk together, we established a clear framework to support sustainable decision‑making and long‑term resilience.
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