We collected data on which UK museums had closed since 2000, why, and on what had happened to their collections and other objects. Wherever possible we found out who had acquired the collection, under what circumstances, when, and the objects’ new locations, if relevant. 

Wherever possible we used Wikidata types to classify the objects itemised in the process of disposal, and drew on the CIDOC Conceptual Reference Model for key distinctions concerning changes in ownership (such as sales and gifts) and custody (such as when an object is loaned or moved).  Using established categories links our research to other datasets and facilitates reuse and semantic alignment. As no prior categorisation existed we developed bespoke taxonomies for reasons for closure, closure events, and actors. This process involved compiling the terms and descriptions commonly found in our sources and grouping similar events together. For instance, sources might cite the recession, rising costs of insurance, and funding cuts as reasons for closure, which we grouped as ‘financial’, while sale of premises, lease expired, and redevelopment of site were grouped under loss of premises