Traveling exhibition or major move? key art logistics strategies for temporary storage
There are moments in the life of an artwork when it doesn’t have a permanent home. It’s not on a gallery wall or in a living room; it’s in a state of transition. Two of the most common challenges in art logistics are managing collections during traveling exhibitions and personal or corporate moves.
For a gallery, it’s the time between when a collection returns from one city and prepares for the next. For a collector, it’s the chaotic period of a move, where artworks are the last thing to leave and the first thing you want to protect.
These transitional periods are, without a doubt, the highest-risk moments for any collection. Handling increases, environments change, and security can be compromised. However, with a professional art logistics strategy, temporary storage ceases to be a problem and instead becomes a secure haven and a command center.
Here, we explore the key advantages of professional temporary storage as a core component of your planning.
Scenario 1: The Traveling Exhibition – A Central Hub for Your Art Logistics
When an exhibition travels to different venues, the art logistics involved are monumental. Artworks often return in crates that need to be inspected, and pieces may require condition reports before heading out again. Using a professional facility like Nimart as a central "hub" offers invaluable advantages.
Key Advantage 1: Centralized Management and Reduced Handling
Instead of shipping works directly from one venue to the next, returning them to a central hub allows us to inspect, document, and prepare everything for the journey. This part of the art logistics chain reduces unnecessary handling at venues that may not have specialized equipment, drastically minimizing the risk of damage.
Key Advantage 2: Uninterrupted Conservation
A gallery may have excellent climate control, but what about the "in-between" phase? Our storage facility guarantees that artworks never leave a museum-quality environment with controlled temperature and humidity, a critical standard for professional art logistics. There are no interruptions in their conservation, protecting sensitive materials from damaging expansion and contraction.
Key Advantage 3: Integrated Art Logistics Services
A professional art storage facility is more than just space. While artworks are with us between venues, our integrated art logistics services mean our team can:
Perform detailed condition reports.
Professionally photograph each piece for an updated record.
Re-pack or build new crates if existing ones sustained damage.
Coordinate all transportation to the next destination, freeing up the gallery's staff.
Scenario 2: The Move or Renovation – A Safe Harbor in the Midst of Chaos
During a move or renovation, chaos is inevitable. In this environment of dust, workers, and constant movement, a valuable art collection is extremely vulnerable. This is where specialized art logistics becomes critical.
Key Advantage 1: Unwavering Security
While your attention is on the move, we focus on one thing: the security of your art. Our facilities feature 24/7 surveillance, controlled access, and state-of-the-art fire suppression systems. Your collection will be in a secure vault, far from any potential risks at the site.
Key Advantage 2: Precise Inventory and Collection Management
Before a single piece enters our warehouse, we conduct a complete photographic and documentary inventory. You will know exactly what you have and its condition. This eliminates the stress of losing track of a work and is fundamental for insurance and collection management.
Key Advantage 3: Custom Flexibility and Access
"Temporary storage" can mean a few weeks or many months. A professional service offers the flexibility to adapt to your project's timeline. Should you need to access your works, you can do so safely and by appointment in our private viewing rooms.
Prevention is the Best Art Logistics Strategy
Whether you are planning a multi-city exhibition tour or preparing for a renovation, the strategy is the same: move your artworks out of the risk zone and into an environment of maximum protection.
Professional temporary storage, a core component of expert art logistics, is not an expense; it is an investment in preservation and security. It’s the peace of mind that comes from knowing that while the world around them is in motion, your artworks are resting in a stable, secure, and expert-controlled environment.
Are you facing a transitional period with your collection? Don't leave its safety to chance.
Contact our art logistics specialists today to design a temporary storage strategy tailored to your needs.