Te Papa is committed to lending its collection items to non-profit organisations for public exhibition or to approved institutions for research purposes.
Te Papa will make every effort to assist potential borrowers. Borrowers should contact a curator or collection manager prior to the loan application for assistance in identifying, selecting, or viewing collection items.
Exhibition
Should you wish to borrow a collection item for exhibition, a formal application should be made to Te Papa's Loans Manager at least six months prior to the opening of the exhibition. More advance notice may be needed if the request is of a complex nature and/or you require a large number of items.
Your loan request should include the following information:
- Name, address, and contact details of the borrowing organisation and contact person for the loan
- Exhibition title, venue, and dates, and an exhibition outline
- Loan period (allowing time for delivery, installation, deinstallation, and return)
- Collection item details including the Te Papa registration number
- A Facilities Report for your venue and any additional venues
- Proposed plan for the display and/or security of the items to prevent visitor touching
- Requests for taonga (Māori cultural treasures) should be accompanied by a letter of support from the appropriate iwi (tribal group).
Your loan requests will be assessed by curators, collection managers, conservators, and object support staff who will comment on potential risks, make recommendations on those risks, and identify associated costs. Staff will consider the following criteria when making the assessment:
- Nature of the proposed venue(s) and audience
- Size and complexity of the proposed loan in relation to conflicting requests and priorities
- Nature and condition of the collection item
- Timeliness of the request and length of loan.
We will let you know the outcome of the assessment within 40 working days of receiving your application. Te Papa will lend the collection items in an exhibitable condition. Please note that the borrower is responsible for the associated costs of the loan. These costs are material costs only and do not include the cost of staff time unless the work is contracted out. Associated costs are likely to include the following:
- Packing materials including crate construction
- Matting and framing of artwork
- Appropriate display mounts
- Condition Report images.
The borrower will be expected to arrange and pay for the following (in consultation with Te Papa):
- Insurance (transit and in-situ)
- Freight (including customs clearance)
- Costs of accompanying courier (fares, accommodaton, and daily allowance).
In our assessment of requests we balance the vulnerability of the item with the resources available to care for it. We recognise that there may be a period of negotiation. Once we have concluded our negotiation, both parties will sign a formal loan agreement and adhere strictly to the conditions contained in that document.
Research
Should you wish to borrow a collection item for research, a formal application should be made to the relevant collection manager.
The loan request should include the following information:
- Name, address, and contact details of the borrowing institution and contact person for the loan.
- Details of the research programme and/or title
- Loan dates.