Museums are prohibited from selling their collections, and they cannot engage in the sale of property under any circumstances.
In response to recent comments by the head of Tehran City Council, who stated that “selling some paintings is common practice in many museums,” Seyed Ahmad Tabatabai, the head of ICOM Iran (International Council of Museums), made it clear that museums do not have the right to sell their property. According to international standards and the definition provided by ICOM, museums are prohibited from participating in the sale of their collections.
In an interview with ILNA, Tabatabai emphasized that museums and galleries operate under entirely different frameworks. “Museums cannot sell their assets,” he explained, adding, “If a museum’s statute allows for the sale of items, it is actually functioning as a gallery, and the term ‘museum’ should be removed from its title.”
He further stated that the global definition of museums, which aligns with ICOM’s guidelines, clearly outlines their duties, functions, and limitations. This includes a strict prohibition on the sale of museum property.
He added: “The sale of cultural property is a red line for museums. While museums can have shops that offer cultural products or non-museum merchandise, they are strictly prohibited from selling cultural property. For example, even a carpet museum can provide restoration and expertise services, but it cannot sell cultural property. This is a fundamental difference between a museum and a gallery.”
Seyed Ahmad Tabatabai emphasized: “Galleries are institutions that can buy and sell objects and artworks. Though museums can make purchases, they are not allowed to sell their collections. Many museums, in accordance with the laws of their respective countries, lend objects to other museums for one or two years or send items to other cities or countries for exhibitions. All of these actions are governed by formal legal procedures relating to cultural, artistic, and historical properties. However, I must stress again that museums cannot engage in the sale of property.”
He further reminded: “In Iran, the custodian of cultural and historical properties is the General Administration of Museums, and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage must clarify this incident and take responsibility for protecting Iran’s cultural assets.”
