Curators concerned with collection development can no longer rely on the uncritical acceptance of their professional judgement by those who use and control regional, publicly funded museums. When justifying the initial outlay and long-term implications of acquiring material, curators must balance the legitimate and often conflicting aspirations of four interest groups:1) curatorial staff, concerned about how appropriate the addition is to collections policy; 2) the public, expecting some element of popular appeal; 3) the scientific community, emphasizing intellectual novelty; and 4) the museum's governing body, concerned with resource implications. By arguing the merits of proposed acquisitions in ways that take proper account of the value systems employed by these (overlapping) groups, curators will maximize their chances of unlocking resources. Recent additions to the collection at Bristol City Museum are analyzed.