The interior of a museum

Photo: Avi Chomotovski

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Temperature limits for storing museum items suspended

Minimum temperature requirement for storing loaned cultural items insured through government scheme is suspended in the wake of rising energy costs.

Patrick Jowett
2 min read

Arts Council England (ACE) and DCMS have agreed to suspend a minimum temperature requirement for storing items that are on loan to cultural institutions and covered by the Government Indemnity Scheme (GIS).

The decision has been made “to support museums with rising energy costs throughout the winter”, according to guidance on ACE’s website.

The GIS, administered by ACE and underwritten by the government, is an insurance scheme available to museums, galleries, libraries and other institutions that are loaning cultural items for public benefit, protecting them against loss or damage to the object.

A standard condition of indemnity is that items are stored between 16°C and 24°C with a maximum fluctuation of 4°C within 24 hours.  

But ACE relaxed the minimum temperature requirement with immediate effect last week (16 December), with the suspension in place until 31 March 2023.

The decision has been supported by a Government Indemnity Scheme Environmental Adviser, who will be responsible for assessing submitted temperature data of any affected objects.

“This temporary arrangement requires a planned approach of gradually reducing the temperature at the beginning and restoring at end of the four month period, to create a slow and gradual change to the period with no minimum temperature control; and in agreement with owners/lenders,” ACE’s online guidance says.

Institutions with objects covered by the GIS will continue to have to maintain the object’s environmental conditions throughout the loan period, which includes monitoring the relative humidity, temperature, light and UV levels of the area containing the indemnified object.

Sharing the announcement on Twitter, Director of Mortice Consulting Ben Melham said the change “will help many institutions, although they will need to risk assess any changes to environmental conditions for collections”.

“This may also set a precedent for further conversations in relation to collections, energy use, energy cost and carbon/sustainability.”