Collections policy
Imperial War Museum

The Imperial War Museum seeks to collect selectively and illustratively within a macro context: it is not the museum's function to preserve all surviving artefacts relating to its remit, which encompasses conflict since 1914, and its maritime collection is therefore illustrative. It includes vessels, but also a wide range of smaller artefacts. Emphasis is placed on collecting items relating to the Post War period.

The Museum is in discussion with the Ministry of Defence with regard to becoming the national collection for the history of nuclear deterrence. The museum also seeks to enhance its major art collection and audio-visual and documentary archives.

There is an emphasis on collecting items that reflect personal experiences of war alongside those bearing on political, strategic and technological perspectives. Its collections are so large as to permit of some deselecting to other museums and archives. The Imperial War Museum takes due account of the collecting policies of other institutions and consults in order to avoid unnecessary duplication and waste of resources.