9 - Loans
from Part 2 - Collections management: processes
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 June 2018
Summary
Fundamentals
Lending objects is a fundamental aspect of collections management. For organizations that do not have their collections on display, loans can be a way of displaying them to the public for both enjoyment and scholarly interest. For those without a permanent collection, borrowing and exhibiting objects can be the main focus of their operation. Private collectors are often asked to lend works of art to public exhibitions and most museums and galleries both lend and borrow frequently as part of everyday operations.
Sending a valuable object to another destination, however, must be carefully considered, with the safety of the object being of greatest importance. The reasons for and conditions of the loan should be clear and agreed in advance by both lender and borrower, preferably in a written contract. Risks should be considered, packing and transport must be safe and secure, and handling and installation should follow best‑practice guidelines.
Reasons to lend include the following:
Contributing to an important exhibition.
Adding to the scholarship, research and knowledge of a particular work.
Putting on display a work that would normally be in storage.
Giving access to the work to a wider public, new audience and remote or small museums.
Creating educational programmes around an object or an exhibition.
An opportunity to conserve to exhibition standard.
Fostering good relationships between museums.
Shared and improved knowledge of museum working practices.
Exposure of a seldom‑seen artist or subject.
Introducing and interpreting other cultures.
Some objects should not be moved, either for conservation reasons or due to the fact that they are particularly associated with a specific site or museum. Some loans are in fact undertaken for the wrong reasons. Reasons not to lend include:
The object is too fragile to move or lend or has been over‑exposed to light.
The item is a ‘key’ object in the museum, permanently on display.
The work is not available because it is already reserved for another exhibition.
Short notice: there is no time to process the loan or the museum is already fully committed at this time.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Museum Collections Management , pp. 169 - 200Publisher: FacetPrint publication year: 2011