Acquisition Policy
An Acquisition Policy is a formal document that guides museums and cultural institutions in deciding what items to add to their collections. Think of it as a roadmap that helps museum staff make smart choices about which artifacts, artworks, or objects they should accept, purchase, or decline. It includes guidelines about what types of items fit the museum's mission, how to evaluate potential donations, and what paperwork needs to be completed. This is similar to how retail stores have buying guidelines, but for historical and cultural items instead of products for sale.
Examples in Resumes
Developed and implemented new Acquisition Policy for the museum's contemporary art collection
Updated Acquisition Policy to include digital art and NFT guidelines
Managed collection growth through strategic application of Acquisition Policy guidelines
Typical job title: "Museum Curators"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Museum Curators
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you revise an outdated acquisition policy to address modern collecting challenges?
Expected Answer: A senior curator should discuss evaluating current collection needs, consulting stakeholders, incorporating digital assets, considering storage capacity, and ensuring alignment with the museum's mission and resources.
Q: How do you handle competing priorities in acquisitions with limited budget?
Expected Answer: Should explain strategies for balancing different department needs, fundraising opportunities, evaluation criteria for prioritizing acquisitions, and maintaining good relationships with donors and stakeholders.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What factors do you consider when evaluating a potential acquisition?
Expected Answer: Should mention checking if item fits museum's mission, considering conservation needs, storage requirements, documentation completeness, and provenance verification.
Q: How do you handle unsolicited donation offers that don't align with the acquisition policy?
Expected Answer: Should discuss diplomatic communication with donors, explaining policy requirements, suggesting alternative institutions, and maintaining professional relationships.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is the purpose of an acquisition policy?
Expected Answer: Should explain that it guides collection growth, ensures consistency in collecting, helps make decisions about accepting items, and maintains focus on museum's mission.
Q: What basic documentation is needed when acquiring a new item?
Expected Answer: Should mention deed of gift forms, provenance documentation, condition reports, and basic cataloging information.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of acquisition procedures
- Ability to process simple acquisitions
- Knowledge of basic documentation requirements
- Understanding of collection storage needs
Mid (2-5 years)
- Independent handling of acquisition process
- Donor relationship management
- Budget planning for acquisitions
- Policy interpretation and application
Senior (5+ years)
- Policy development and revision
- Strategic collection planning
- Major acquisition project management
- Training staff on acquisition procedures
Red Flags to Watch For
- No knowledge of basic museum documentation practices
- Unfamiliarity with ethical guidelines in collecting
- Lack of experience with donor relations
- Poor understanding of collection care requirements
