ABSTRACT
TheOrganismoAutonomodeMuseosyCentros(OAMC)managessix museumslocatedinTenerife.Thesemuseumsaimtorescueandpreserve theCanarianheritage,whichwouldotherwisebescatteredthrough nationalandlargermuseumsallovertheworld-lostinstoresamongst thousandsofotherobjects.OAMC'Sgreatestdifficultyinachievingthisis derivedfromthelackofawrittenpolicysettingoutcriteriaforcollecting. Incomingobjectsareacceptedaccordingtodirectors'orconservators' judgementandtaste,economicopportunitiesorpressuresfromthe politicianswhocontroltheOAMCboard.Theresultforpreventive conservation,andforco-ordination,andindeedco-operation,amongthe museums'staff,isproblematic.IConsequently,despitesignificantannual expenditure,provisionforcollectioncareandconservationremains inadequate.
