Abstract

From the past to the present, collecting and managing collections have been one of the main functions of art museums. Museum work has focused on artworks rather than visual arts materials. Consequently, the importance of visual arts materials has tended to be undervalued, and due to persistent problems such as a lack of budget and space, the collection and management of these materials have not been easy. Furthermore, the unique nature of visual arts materials in terms of their types, sources, and distribution systems poses challenges for collecting them. Establishing a collection policy is the most fundamental and essential approach to addressing these difficulties. However, most domestic institutions collecting visual arts materials operate without a collection policy. This study aims to improve this situation by examining the current state of collecting visual arts materials at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, a prominent art museum in South Korea, to identify problems. It then analyzes overseas cases to draw implications. Based on these findings, the study proposes measures to improve current regulations and establish a collection policy for enhancing the collection of visual arts materials.