British Council Awards Collection Management System

In a recent procurement process, the British Council has successfully awarded a contract for a Spectrum compliant database collections management system to the French company SKINsoft. This contract, valued at £140,000, is aimed at enhancing the management of the British Council's extensive collection of nearly 9,000 modern and contemporary artworks.

The consortium of contractors applied for the contract as the British Council’s Visual Arts team manages a diverse range of artworks, and the need for a sophisticated inventory system is crucial for efficient management. The selected software will not only serve as a collections management system but also include functionalities for a linked public catalog website that will display artworks and publications owned by, or on loan to, the British Council.

SKINsoft will be responsible for migrating all existing data from the current system, ensuring a seamless transition. The tender process was competitive, with five tenders received, all attributed to SMEs, highlighting the strong interest in this niche development sector. This award marks a significant step for the British Council in modernizing their art management practices and enhancing accessibility to their collection.