Accounting can be done in several different ways and the way it is done may result in consequences for organizational behavior and management. (O 'Hare, n.d.) One issue is the failure of museum to capitalize their collections and report them as assets. According to the Australian Accounting Standards, annual general-purpose financial reports will be misrepresented if heritage and collections are included as assets. One of the criteria’s of an asset is to bring future economic benefit. The question raised in relation to museum is whether the public heritage collections have any future economic benefits deriving from the collections which is economic to the museum? These arguments are very extensive and many museums can argue about the fact …show more content…
Firstly, the asset must provide future economic benefit. Secondly, the reporting entity must control the future economic benefits in such a way that it can enjoy the benefit and prevent others to benefit from it. Finally, the transaction or event giving rise to the control must have occurred. (Aasb.gov.au, n.d.)
However, an asset is only recognized as per AASB 116 in financial statement if it is probable that the future benefits from the asset will eventuate and if the item has a cost or value that can be measured. (Leo, Hoggett & Sweeting, 2012) The term probable is means the like for the future benefit is higher than less likely to happen. An element will be considered as an asset only if it satisfy the probability of providing future benefits. (Aasb.gov.au, n.d.) An item will usually have a cost or value to use to measure reliably. The measurement of asset is made at its cost and appropriate measurement basis will be based upon model of accounting being applied. (Aasb.gov.au, n.d.) Items that so not have a cost or cannot be measured reliably cannot be considered as an asset. (Aasb.gov.au, n.d.)
Museum and art collections include items such as work of arts, books, manuscripts, artefacts and collectables which are held for their cultural or historical significance. These items are either acquired at no or nominal cost. Therefore, they are measured at fair value. (Anao.gov.au, 2015) In some cases where we cannot define the fair value of these items, they cannot
Museums collect information to show to the public for educational advancement and personal enjoyment. Museum curators have a very imperative job, when it comes to the success of a museum. Museum curators take the time and dedication to find artifacts that not only fit the theme of the museum but they also have to consider price, authenticity, and origin. The artifacts chosen mush hold a “Wow” factor registering remembrance and relevance into the minds of its visitors. The artifacts should be chosen based upon significance not the monetary value.
Although a cultural center for entertainment and education, a museum is, at its core, a business. Being such, it must operate as such. Obtaining and maintaining valuable artifacts is expensive; procurement, transportation, upkeep, and security are some of the many costs involved. The revenue generated by the museum has to be sufficient enough to cover these large expenses. For that reason, the cost-effectiveness of a piece must be considered. A famous piece, such as the Mona Lisa, will
According to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), an item should meet four criteria to gain recognition as an asset, liability, expense, or in our case, revenue. The item should meet the definition of the financial element and should be measurable, relevant, and reliable. Revenues are inflows of assets of an entity or settlements of its liabilities during the appropriate earning period. The element must also be measurable with sufficient reliability and have relevance in user decisions.
As discussed above, if indicators of impairment exist for an asset (group) to be held and used, an entity determines whether the sum of the estimated undiscounted future cash flows attributable to the asset (group) in question is less than its carrying amount. If those undiscounted cash flows are less than
eventual disposition of the asset (asset group). That assessment shall be based on the carrying amount
In the early morning hours of March 18, 1990, a pair of thieves disguised as Boston police officers entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and roamed the Museum’s galleries, stealing thirteen works of art. The stolen works are valued at $500 million, which made the lottery the largest art theft in American history. There were 14 pieces of art that was stolen on the March 18, 1990. There is a reward of $5 million for information leading to the recovery of these works in good condition. No one has found out, it has been 25 years of theories as to what happened.
At the Frederick Historical Society, we have a room for newly obtained artifacts that need to be catalogued. When an object is catalogued its expected location and current condition is documented along with a summary about the object’s significance. Also, at the Historical Society they have limited their collection to only artifacts that have a relation to Frederick, this decision allows our collection to maintain somewhat controllable. Correspondingly, if we have an abundance of an objects i.e. chairs from the 1800’s, we will not accept the newly donated materials or we will turn the object into a hands-on activity. This approach is similar to the hands-on muskets at the Civil War and Medicine Museum. Furthermore, the Historical Society has an offsite facility to help manage its enormous collection. Most importantly, it is the job of the collection manager to ensure that all objects are catalogued correctly and placed in the proper
This week readings discusses both the history of museums, primarily in the United States, and their evolution from high brow institutions to ones that serve, educate, and engage the populace. The articles also trace the constant discussions museum professionals had regarding the focus and dissemination of their collections. These articles all agree that museums must transform from places that solely focus on the collection, preservation, conservation, and dissemination of rare items to ones that also become a part of the community, represent the many voices and interests of the public, educate, and become a forum for discussion about issues beyond the items in a glass case of hung on he wall.
In our modern world, we often neglect the cultural importance of art. Large collections of traditional artifacts are present in museums across the world, but the number of annual visitors shrinks every decade. Because of the decreasing demand of live works of art, those who manage museums must choose every exhibit and display case wisely to ensure maximum appeal to the general public. Important decisions regarding museum structure change museums every few years, similar to how “Peale’s Museum . . . grew from a small sampling of curiosities . . . to a large and impressive collection of scientifically classified specimens in the 1820s” (Source B). In order to consistently modify museums, the management must consider what pieces of
company, except a company must report its worth at the end of each fiscal year. A company 's total assets and total
The main idea I intend to discuss in this paper is how the conception of the deaccession process in the United States museums is completely different from the museums in my home country, Egypt. Because of the majority of the American museums are nonprofit organizations, the deaccession considers a basic process in the collection management of any museum in America. Otherwise, Egypt misses the nonprofit organization sector. It has only two types of museums. The main and common type is the governmental museums which direct by the Egyptian government while the second type of the museums is the private galleries which belong to the different artists and the public persons and concern on the personal holdings.
Over time the value of the contents of the museum has changed which means security within the building would also have to change. With time technology has
As a child, it can be difficult to see the weaknesses of a museum; the inaccuracies in facts, clothing, manners, it is not something that one really cares for. However, it can be a dangerous choice for a museum to stay the same, for much like when one fondly remembers a television show from their childhood only to re-watch it ten years later and discover that it was rather ridiculous, when someone returns to a poorly developed museum, there will be a wave of disappointment when it does not meet their expectations. If a museum wishes to succeed and survive, they need to adapt and evolve in order to create the ideal environment for their visitors.
gallery owner or the museum curator that lend their capital—in the form of the exhibition
According to this concept the asset is recorded in the books of accounts at the price paid for it and not at its market value. For example: if a business entity purchases a building valued at $15 million from a friend for $12 million, this asset would be recorded at $12 million and not at $ 15 million, because for the business entity the cost was $12 million and not $15 million.