Protection of Cultural Heritage: Risk Management in Museums in Turkey

Abstract

The concept of risk management has started to be used in museums towards the end of 1980’s and it has been suggested that an analytical approach could be used for risks in preventive conservation work. Risk management has started to be discussed as a separate area of study in museums in Turkey with 1999 earthquakes. In this context, the aim of the article is to examine the studies carried out on risk management in museums in Turkey and assess the current situation; to explain the risk management needs of museums based on this review and to make suggestions. In the article, risks about museum buildings and collections will be explained at first; information on the legal regulations, strategies, action plans, institutional initiatives and projects related to risk management in museums in Turkey will be given by examining the existing documents and the studies carried out in this field; risk management work both in state and private museums will be examined and suggestions will be made for the needs of museums related to risk management. In the article, laws, regulations and reports related to the subject were examined with the document analysis method, and the studies in the field were searched with the literature review. According to the research findings, the activities carried out on risk management in museums in Turkey are mostly limited with earthquake risk and preventive conservation. In the current legal regulations, there is a need to refer to the issue of risk management for museums. Risk management policies and plans should be developed for museums and holistic studies, which cover all risk factors, should be carried out accordingly. An institutional structuring, which can give service in the national scale on risk management issue for all moveable and immoveable cultural properties, museums, libraries and archives, is a need.