V&A and Science Museum (London) forming largest photography collection

[pdeeh]

see this link:

http://hyperallergic.com/274076/vic...raphy-collection-at-regional-museums-expense/

 

[AgX]

In that article it is not really made clear who actually owns those photographs in question and made that decision. It is the Royal Photographic Society.
More insight one gets reading this:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/feb/01/bradford-museum-london-royal-photography-society-national-media-Museum

I think the main issue of this transfer is a province/metropole dispute.

 

[RobC]

I visited Bradford center years ago and it was a really bad setup. Appaling bad displays and very few viewable images and virtually none of the big namess on display. Gaining access to view any original prints was for the academic elite only.
I suspect this is the reason why they are being moved. The V&A has an almost opendoor policy to viewing any of their artworks in their collections. You can book a study room and request specificc works to view and they are brought to you from the vaults so you can view and handle them. The V&A is a far better place for them. Bradford can whine all it likes but theres no point keeping them there if no one is able to view or use them for research (unless they have a string of academic qualifications in a related field).

 

[RobC]

I think the main issue of this transfer is a province/metropole dispute.

That's just northerners expressing their normal northern bigotry about the south.

 

[RobC]

And it should be remembered that the Royal Photographic Society collection was only put there fairly recently. I suspect it was on condition that the works were put on regular display which I also suspect hasn't happened.

 

[RobC]

The sea of steps photograph is from Wells Cathedral and there will definitely be some very deep tripod holes where that was taken...

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=w...ved=0ahUKEwi0gPmtqfDKAhVJchQKHXqBB2kQ_AUIBigB

 

[AgX]

I visited Bradford center years ago and it was a really bad setup. Appaling bad displays and very few viewable images and virtually none of the big namess on display. Gaining access to view any original prints was for the academic elite only.
I suspect this is the reason why they are being moved. The V&A has an almost opendoor policy to viewing any of their artworks in their collections.

This sheds a bit more light on the transfer issue.
Could the restriction imposed by the Bradford Museum be reasoned by their financial shortage>less qualified personnel>more restrictions?
Was the situation in Bradford better in the past?

(I cannot think of any fotomuseum I know where anyone can have a look at originals from the collection.)

 

[RobC]

You can at the V&A. Not always originals but it depends what they are and how much they are worth. Sometimes its facsimilies. But I think photographs which aren't too valuable are originals or at least they used to be. Maybe these days with digital reproduction they use copies more.

I think The RPS collection only went to Bradford when they closed the Octagon gallery in Bath which the RPS had. And I think that was becasue of lack of funds.

If you've ever been to Bradford you'll know its not a place you would normally go out of your way to visit. I only went to visit the Photo gallery and was completely underwhelmed. There were a lot of really naff TV studio setups with antiquated manakins that looked like they had dry rot.

 

[RobC]

The RPS collection only went to Bradford in 2003 so only 12 or so years ago. Its not like its part of their heritage.