Dalian Century Sound Music Culture Museum (World Music Culture Museum)

Artefact Acquisition Policy

Music is an art form that reflects the emotions of human life. This museum aims to promote refined cultural arts and disseminate outstanding musical culture. Through the display of musical instruments—the mediums that convey music—it interprets the profound essence of musical culture. Through extensive supplementary images, archival materials, interactive experiences, and live musical performances, the exhibition strives to showcase the vastness and depth of global musical culture from multiple perspectives. To enrich our collections, provide exhibits for displays, and gather resources for scientific preservation techniques, the Dalian Century Sound Music Culture Museum (World Music Culture Museum) conducts ongoing artefact acquisition efforts in accordance with its institutional nature and exhibition characteristics.

I. Accepting Public Donations.

    The museum encourages voluntary donations of cultural relics and collections from individuals, legal entities, and other social organizations. Donated items will undergo rigorous authentication to determine authenticity, age, and value before acceptance decisions are made. Accepted donations will undergo formal acceptance procedures, with detailed records kept, catalogued, and securely stored. To encourage donations, donors may receive certificates of appreciation or financial compensation commensurate with the value of the items they donate.

II. Acquisition of Cultural Relics.

    Acquisition is a vital means for museums to expand collections through economic means. Acquired artefacts must adhere to the principle of voluntary sale by the owner, uphold impartial valuation, safeguard the seller's interests, and maintain the museum's reputation. Acquired artefacts must be legally held. For items legally classified as state-owned, such as excavated artefacts, museums should actively inform holders and seek cooperation from relevant authorities for confiscation. Original records must be maintained, and acquired artefacts must be properly catalogued and stored.

III. Cultural Relic Surveys and Field Collection.

Museum acquisition staff shall actively gather leads and conduct field surveys and collection activities among the public. When undertaking such surveys and collections, relevant authorities must be consulted, and all parties involved must be coordinated to prevent damage to cultural or natural environments. Detailed original records must be maintained when collecting specimen artefacts. The museum shall provide appropriate recognition and material rewards to individuals who provide significant leads.

IV. Allocation of Cultural Relics

Based on the museum's nature and exhibition characteristics, as well as for relic preservation, collection management, and exhibition, the museum actively seeks relic allocations from higher authorities. For relics allocated to the museum, complete procedures must be followed in accordance with relevant national regulations. Proper documentation, archiving, and protection of allocated relics must be ensured.

V. Inter-Museum Cultural Relic Exchange.

To share resources, fill gaps, and maximise the utility of cultural relics, museums shall actively engage in inter-museum exchanges. For exchanged relics, an exchange inventory shall be compiled and submitted to the competent higher authority for approval. For relics exchanged into the museum, tasks including registration, cataloguing, shelving, and archival management shall be completed; for relics exchanged out of the museum, tasks including deregistration and archiving shall be completed.

VI. Cultural Relic Transfer.

    To ensure the proper preservation and full utilisation of valuable artefacts, museums actively coordinate with archaeological teams, customs authorities, and cultural relics shops to accept transfers of excavated artefacts, confiscated artefacts, and select artefacts. During the transfer process, the transferring party may be entitled to receive appropriate financial compensation.