ACT 1963 OBSTRUCTION FOR THE ROSETTA STONE: THE NEW GRAND EGYPTIAN MUSEUM AND THE BRITISH MUSEUM

How do museums build their collections? Have you ever wondered about the collection policies of museums? While the new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), which is preparing for its opening in 2023 to become the world's largest archaeological museum, is on our agenda, it is necessary to mention about the collection policies. GEM will house over 100,000 artefacts, include the entirety of Tutankhamun’s treasure displayed together for the first time, and become the largest archaeological museum complex in the world. But... There is something missing in this huge collection. You might be wondering what the British Museum has to do with the opening of the GEM... We can answer it in two words: Rosetta Stone. That stone that cannot be shared and the debate between academics and researchers never ends. Special tours of Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) have started before the opening, and photos are sent to us. Sharing photos is prohibited after a part of the museum, so we can see it to a certain extent. It has already become clear that it will be a museum that excites us museologists. Returning to our topic: In 2021, more than 2,500 archaeologists signed a petition to repatriate the artefact -the stone- and a YouGov poll on the wider issue of returning artefacts to their country of origin found 62% in favour. (Cover Photograph: Grand Egyptian Museum Official Facebook Page)
So what path will the British Museum follow now? The statement from the British Museum was that they had not received an official request for the return of the Rosetta Stone, but since the 1963 Act prevented its return, the most logical way was to partnership with Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

So what is the Act 1963, why is it so restrictive for the British Museum?

The British Museum Act 1963 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and it superseded the British Museum Act 1902. The act prohibits the Museum from disposing of assets, except in a few special circumstances. In May 2005 a judge of the High Court of England and Wales ruled that Nazi-looted Old Master artworks held at the museum could not be returned. The Act also made the Natural History Museum an independent organisation, with its own board of trustees.Photograph: British Museum Official Facebook Page
Since there will be no way a violation of the law for Rosetta Stone, is it possible for the British Museum to become an independent institution with its own board of trustees, like the Natural History Museum? We will see if there is a change in the coming days. A museum can easily follow its reputation - for museum audiences - through 'memes'. If they keen to keep up to date, sure. If we look at the British Museum's reputation over 'art memes', you can see that it is not progressing well. You can Google it for 'British Museum memes' to see them. Of course, this is not the only valid method for perceiving the reputation of a museum, but it is clear that it is effective today. While museums remove borders, they should also cross the borders of social media. When will the British Museum Communications Department take this seriously? It has become important for their corporate identity that they take this situation seriously and take the right steps. For this reason their decision about the Rosetta Stone move will be important.
Destina Hande Cil : 

When examining such collection policies, being limited to a single research will not be enough for you to understand the binding of the law and the operation of museum collection policies. For example, the British Museum can be examined with a single museum collection policy, but the situation is different in museums with many internal stakeholders. For example: Birmingham Museums and Smithsonian Museums are the best examples of this. Some regulations become necessary to prevent the silo effect in the collections. The binding of collections in museums is not only a matter of concern to that country. While the concept of 'internationalization' highlight in museums, it should be a priority to provide new regulations and take steps to support the independent decisions of the institution instead of taking refuge in the bindingness of laws.

What are the collection policies and processes in museums?

• Acquisition and Accessioning (Inheritance, Exchange, State Transfer, Purchase etc.)
• Deaccessioning and Disposal (Donations, Transfers, Exchange, Repatriation etc.)
• Loans and Borrows (Collection items are treated as 'credits' in such cases)

The situation of the British Museum and the Grand Egyptian Museum here will be evaluated in the Collection Policies, under the title of 'Deaccessioning and Disposal' for the British Museum, and under the title of 'Acquisition and Accessioning' for the GEM. As museologists, GEM professionals would not prefer to respond positively to the British Museum's possible 'Loans and Borrows' move and would prefer a permanent move.