Museum Act

Short title This Law may be cited as the Museum Law (1999 Revision). Definitions In this Law — “Board” means the Board of Control appointed under section 5; “Chairman” means the Chairman of the Board; “Governor” means the Governor in Council; “Museum” means the Cayman Islands Museum established by section 3; and “Trustees” means the Trustees appointed under section 8. Establishment of the Museum There is established the Cayman Islands Museum under the direction of the Board appointed under section 5 and managed by a Curator appointed under section 9. Functions of the Museum The functions of the Museum include — (a) the establishment and maintenance in the Islands of Museum buildings with galleries and other suitable rooms for the exhibition and display of objects of historical, natural or scientific interest, artifacts, paintings, engravings, sculptures, bronzes, enamels, jewellery, gems, coins, medals, nautical relics and other things; (b) the provision of gardens, greenhouses, rooms for recreation and refreshment, lecture rooms, libraries, machinery and conveniences as may be thought desirable for the entertainment, instruction and education of the public, with or without charge, and to do all things conducive thereto; the preservation and restoration of objects of interest; (d) the promotion of research and scientific enquiries and the publication of reports, papers and cinematograph films in that behalf; (e) the promotion of scientific lectures and outside displays; (f) liaison with foreign institutions having similar objects for the mutual exchange of facilities; and (g) such other activities as may, from time to time, be prescribed by regulations. Control of the Museum The Museum shall be under the direction of a Board of Control consisting of a Chairman and not less than four nor more than six other members all to be appointed, from time to time by the Governor, to hold office at his pleasure. Procedure of the Board (1) Meetings of the Board shall be convened by the Chairman at least once in every quarter and upon other occasions at seven days’ notice served upon the members by the Chairman or by any two members. (2) The Board shall arrive at its decisions by majority vote and, in the event of a tie, the Chairman shall have a casting vote. (3) The Board shall be assisted by a secretary to be appointed by the Governor and the secretary shall attend Board meetings but take no part in the Board’s decisions. (4) In other respects the Board may determine its own procedures. Finance The expenses of the Museum shall be met by funds voted by the Legislative Assembly for that purpose, by admission fees paid by the public and such other moneys as may be received by the Board including gifts to enhance the funds of the Museum. Trustees (1) All the property of the Museum shall be vested in four Trustees appointed by the Governor to hold office at his pleasure who shall deal with the property in accordance with resolutions passed from time to time by the Board and directed to the Trustees. (2) The Trustees shall have perpetual succession, a common seal and power to hold immovable and movable property and shall have the corporate name of “The Trustees of the Cayman Islands Museum”. Curator The Museum shall be managed by a Curator appointed upon the advice of the Public Service Commission who shall be assisted by such staff as may be determined from time to time by the Governor, and by volunteer members of the public. Property

(1) The property of the Museum includes — (a) Government grants in cash or kind; (b) objects collected by the Museum staff; and gifts, including gifts by will, and where conditions are attached to any gift, the Trustees shall accept or reject such gift upon the instructions of the Board. (2) The Board has power to purchase, sell, borrow, lend and exchange movable property. Charitable status

The Governor may make regulations for the better implementation of this Law and for prescribing anything by this Law required or authorised to be prescribed. Bye-Laws

The Board may make bye-laws for the good conduct and general management and organisation of the Museum and, subject to the approval of the Governor, for determining admission charges to the public and prescribing fees for other services rendered by the Museum. Publication in revised form authorised by the Governor in Council this 1st day of June, 1999. Carmena H. Parsons Clerk of Executive Council Note (not forming part of the Law): Section 31(1) of the Institute of Caymanian Heritage Law, 1991 (13 of 1991), which as at the 3rd June, 1999 has not yet been brought into operation, provides for the repeal of the Museum Law. Once, under section 32(1) of the Institute of Caymanian Heritage Law, 1991, a date is appointed by the Governor, by notice published in the Gazette, for the latter law to come into operation, the Museum Law is repealed from that appointed date.