The following is a statement by the Society's Chair, Dr Margaret Mountford,

and Dr Alice Stevenson, UCL.

This month University College London Culture announced a consultation for a proposed re-structure of the way its museums and collections are managed and maintained. This has a significant impact on UCL’s Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology resulting in the redundancy of the museum’s manager, the senior conservator, and visitor services manager. These losses will stretch the capacity of the museum to provide access to its collections for researchers and its ability to engage the wider public.

Many of the public Egyptological collections around the globe include material excavated by the Egypt Exploration Society between 1882 and 1980 and as such Egypt, the Society, and its supporters remain key stakeholders in decisions made with regard to their future use, access, and preservation.

Recognized by the UK government as 'of outstanding importance' in 1998, the collections of the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology are a landmark in UK Egyptological research and paramount to the developing reception of ancient cultures.

Public museums offer the best hope that ancient objects are safeguarded against loss or deterioration to their condition, and that they will remain accessible to scholars and the wider public for study and enjoyment. As stewards of Egypt’s heritage, much stands to be lost if provision for their care is not maintained.

We appeal to all collections at risk to consider these points in their proposals and we support the staff employed to safeguard them for future generations.

A copy of this statement has been sent to Mr Simon Cane, Director of UCL Culture

Further details regarding the restructure can be found here.