National Survey of Museum Collecting Practices

Penn Cultural Heritage Center at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology launched the National Survey of Museum Collecting Practices, which aims to develop a comprehensive picture of how U.S. museums and similar institutions acquire, borrow, deaccession, resolve ownership questions about, and conduct provenance research on cultural objects.  

The survey is open to any U.S.-based, nonprofit institution that collects or stewards cultural objects and self-identifies as a museum, library, or other collection. It will remain open through August 20, 2026. 

Summary findings will be published in a 2027 report and make the de-identified results available through the University of Pennsylvania’s open-access institutional repository. Insights from the survey will provide a roadmap for resource allocation, investment, and data-driven decision-making in U.S. museums. 

Access the survey and background information here: https://upenn.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3yEgRIDfEWY0zt4 

Learn more on AAM’s blog: https://www.aam-us.org/2026/05/26/introducing-the-national-survey-of-museum-collecting-practices/

Contact NSMCP@PennMuseum.org with questions, to receive a copy of the questionnaire, or to meet with a member of the team.