Gallery Insurance
Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane & Canberra

A gallery’s exposure begins before a work reaches its display position. Explain who collects pieces from artists, arranges packing, accepts deliveries, installs exhibits and returns unsold works. Describe whether the gallery owns stock, holds work on consignment or borrows pieces for exhibitions. Include art fairs, external storage, private viewings and work sent to prospective buyers on approval. Values can change considerably between exhibitions, so a current average inventory may not capture the largest collection held at one time. Bring an example exhibition schedule to discuss temporary concentrations of value and the points at which responsibility changes.

The type of art affects the information needed. Fragile ceramics, framed works on paper, large sculpture and digital installations may require different handling and environmental arrangements. Identify works that need specialist lifting, climate control or custom transport. Explain public access, private functions, catering and installation activity occurring while visitors are present. Ask how the relevant wording treats consigned property, accidental damage, theft, deterioration and property temporarily away from the gallery. Valuation and settlement provisions deserve particular attention because a damaged artwork may involve questions about conservation, loss of value and ownership that ordinary office contents do not present.

Keep an identifiable record for each significant piece: artist, title, medium, dimensions, owner and agreed value where relevant. Photograph its condition on arrival and departure, and note existing marks or repairs. These records are most useful when tied to the consignment or loan agreement and the actual movement date. Discuss who can approve conservation and whether the owner must agree to any proposed repair. If a courier receives the work, retain the packing instructions and collection acknowledgement. The paperwork should help distinguish pre-existing damage from an event during a period for which the gallery had responsibility.

Read exhibition and consignment terms alongside the proposed insurance arrangements. They may specify a valuation basis, insurance period, transit responsibility or restrictions on how work is displayed. A venue’s insurance certificate is not a substitute for understanding which party has agreed to insure the objects. For an art fair, clarify responsibility during loading, overnight storage and dismantling as well as public opening hours. Keep installer contracts and evidence of agreed handling methods. If an artist’s contract requires broader protection than the policy appears to provide, raise the discrepancy before accepting the work rather than resolving it only after damage occurs.

When a piece is damaged, restrict further handling and obtain appropriate specialist advice. Record its location, condition and the circumstances without attempting cosmetic repairs that could obscure evidence. Contact the broker or insurer about assessment, conservation and communication with the owner. Keep packaging, environmental readings and access records where they may help explain the event. Separate the facts from an early assumption about fault. If water or another developing hazard threatens additional works, prioritise safe protective action and document what was moved, where it went and who handled it. Discuss any proposed disposal or restoration before proceeding.

Use renewal to review the coming exhibition calendar, not merely the previous year’s sales. A prestigious loan, a sculpture exhibition or participation in an interstate fair may create different requirements. Update valuations, security arrangements, storage locations and transport practices. Consider how the gallery would recover if a display area became unusable or collection records were inaccessible. A secure inventory backup and an alternative contact for artists can support that process. Ask how any business interruption arrangement relates to the gallery’s commission income, event revenue and recovery period, recognising that the actual policy trigger and calculation determine the available response.