Loan Policies, Procedures & Fees
The Museum accepts loan requests from Tribal cultural centers, museums, and academic institutions. In order to have ample time for review and processing, all requests must be submitted in writing on institutional letterhead at least six months prior to installation. Please include information on the intended use of the collections, the requested duration of the loan period, and any other details pertinent to the request, including the nature of collections use or type of research to be conducted, the catalog numbers of the objects requested and a time framework including shipping, photography, installation and exhibition dates, etc. Research requests should also discuss expected results. A completed AAM Facility Report for each venue must accompany exhibition loan requests. Please note that loans of Native American Cultural Items housed at the Hearst Museum and falling under the purview of NAGPRA or CalNAGPRA, must also comply with Sections V.J and V.K of the UC Native American Cultural Affiliation and Repatriation Policy. Contact the Division of Registration with requests and questions.
In addition, Tribal access and loans are supported by the Hearst Museum. We welcome Tribes interested in borrowing to contact Linda Waterfield in the Division of Registration for more information.
Borrower
Loans are not made to individuals. If an individual researcher is affiliated with a museum, the loan agreement must be signed by the receiving institution. If the requestor is affiliated with an academic department, the agreement must be signed by the department chairperson.
Schedule
All loans require a minimum of six months to process from the time that approval is granted and a final list of objects is determined. Loans are released only after the receipt of approved loan agreement, fees, and certificate of insurance.
Purpose of Loan
The objects loaned by the Museum may not be used for any purpose other than that agreed upon. Objects may not be lent by the Borrower to a third party without the written permission of the Museum.
Insurance
Unless otherwise agreed, the Borrower is responsible for the cost of insuring all borrowed materials from the time they leave the Museum until the time they are returned. Coverage will include all risks of physical damage or loss with standard exclusions for acts of war, insurrection, and inherent vice, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Museum. The loan objects will be insured at the values assigned or approved by the Museum in writing. The Borrower’s policy will name the “Regents of the University of California” as additional insured and will waive subrogation rights.
Prior to releasing objects for loan, the Museum must receive a Certificate of Insurance showing wall-to-wall coverage from the Borrower. If required, the Borrower will be responsible for the cost of an insurance appraisal. Insurance valuations are not appraisals of value.
Conservation
The Borrower is responsible for all conservation costs. The Museum’s Conservator is responsible for providing an estimate of conservation costs prior to any loan agreement being signed. In-house mount making is supervised and/or conducted by the Conservator. In the event that these in-house services are not available, contract conservation or mount making is charged at the contractor’s rate.
Condition Reports
Condition Reports will be provided by the Museum’s Head of Registration or Conservator. Reports include documentation of each object and a record photograph. Any changes to the conditions noted should be reported immediately and in writing. The Museum may require interim Condition Reports in certain cases. Unless the Borrower gives notice within ten working days after receipt of the loan specifying any defect in, or other objection to, the provided Condition Report, the Borrower agrees that it shall be conclusively presumed that the Borrower has fully inspected the objects and acknowledged that they are in the condition specified in the Condition Report.
Packing
The Borrower will be responsible for the cost of packing objects by in-house staff or a professional handler approved by the Museum. Unless otherwise specified, the Borrower will repack loans in the same or similar material. Packing and crating materials should be stored in appropriate facilities for preservation. The Borrower will be responsible for following any special packing and unpacking instructions provided by the Museum. Any alterations to packing must be approved in writing by the Registrar or Conservator.
Transportation
All transportation costs (carrier, customs brokerage, freight forwarding, additional security, etc.) associated with shipping from and to the Museum are to be borne by the Borrower. Transportation should occur by the safest and most direct means possible, and must be approved by the Museum in advance. Should a courier be required, the Borrower will be responsible for all of the courier’s costs.
Care & Preservation
The Borrower will protect loans from fire, theft, mishandling, insects, dirt and extreme variations in light, temperature and humidity at all times. Loans will be handled only by experienced personnel. Object handling will be kept to a minimum. The Borrower will comply with all special handling instructions required by the Museum. Unless otherwise arranged, all objects must be displayed in secure, locked cases. The Borrower will not clean, repair, or alter a loaned object. Unless specifically arranged in advance, the Borrower may not carry out scientific examination of the objects without written permission from the Museum. The Museum reserves the right to inspect the installation and/or use of the objects at any time.
Loss or Damage
Should loss or damage occur to a borrowed object while in transit, during unpacking or packing, installation or de-installation, or while on display, regardless of who is responsible, it must be reported immediately by telephone, fax or e-mail to the Museum Conservator or Head of Registration, followed by a written report accompanied by photographs. The Borrower may not carry out conservation without the permission of the Museum Conservator. If conservation is necessary, the Borrower will be responsible for the complete cost. Should any incident occur with regard to a borrowed object, whether or not damage is apparent, the event must be reported immediately, and in writing to the Museum.
Mounting & Installation
No tape, glue, pins, staples, wires or other materials may be placed on or into the objects. The Borrower will be responsible for the cost of constructing special mounts for objects requiring them. Mounting instructions for such objects will be provided by the Museum. The Borrower agrees to follow any special mounting or installation instructions provided by the Museum. The loaned objects will be installed only by experienced personnel.
Exhibit Label
If exhibited, the object label should include the following credit line: “Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley” accompanied by the object’s catalog number.
Publicity & Reproductions
Objects may be photographed for use within the exhibition space itself or for Condition Reports. Permission for any other use, such as a publication (see below), or printed or electronic promotional materials, must be received in writing from the Museum. If the Borrower receives permission to make photographs for the purpose of an electronic or print publication or publicity, the Museum requests one set of labeled photos for its records. Photography by the general public is allowed. The use of a flash is not allowed. Subjecting objects to any artificial or natural light beyond that agreed upon for display purposes, requires separate permission from the Hearst Museum.
Catalog, Publication, & Research Findings
If a publication accompanies the exhibition or results from research, the Museum requests one copy for its library. The Museum also requests copies of promotional materials that contain its objects. If published, the object caption should include the following credit line: “Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley” accompanied by the object’s catalog number. A report of research findings must be provided to the Museum at the conclusion of a loan made for research purposes regardless of whether or not a formal publication results.
Loan Fees
Following consideration by the loan review committee, the requestor will be provided with an invoice for administrative fees, and a preliminary estimate of related costs.
The following charges and fees are subject to change and are current as of December 1, 2016.
Loans for Research Loans of materials to be used outside the Museum shall be charged a flat fee of $300 plus $65 per hour for each staff member assigned to process the request in addition to conservation costs. These administrative fees cover the costs of locating collections, review by staff, registrarial oversight of procedures to process, pack, ship, monitor, receive, and return collections to storage. The Borrower will receive an invoice with written approval of the loan. Because the Museum is unable to bear the cost of processing, this fee is due upon receipt. In addition to the above administrative fees, the Borrower is responsible for conservation fees, and all other loan-related costs (see Related Fees for All Loans below).
Loans for Exhibition Once approved, loans to institutions will be charged an administrative fee of $500 for the first object; $300 for each additional object for exhibition loans at the first or single venue. in addition to conservation costs. Objects in exhibitions traveling to different venues, will be charged an additional $150 per object per additional venue. Administrative fees cover the costs of locating collections, review by staff, oversight of procedures to process, pack, ship, monitor, receive, and return collections to storage. The Borrower will receive an invoice for these fees with written approval of the loan. Because the Museum is unable to bear the cost of processing, this fee is due upon receipt. In addition to the above administrative fees, the Borrower is responsible for all conservation fees, and all other loan-related costs (see Related Fees for All Loans at the end of section I). All extended and/or renewed loans after the initial loan period are subject to an annual renewal fee of $100 per object. Once a formal loan request is received, and review by Museum staff has begun, if the loan request is cancelled, withdrawn or postponed indefinitely by the Borrower, a Loan Request Cancellation Fee of $500 will be charged to the prospective Borrower.
Related Fees
Conservation In-house conservation will be billed at $125 per hour plus the cost of materials. In the event that in-house conservation is not available, contract conservation will be charged at the contractor’s rate.
Mount Making In-house mount making is billed at $100 per hour in addition to the cost of materials. In the event that in-house mount making is unavailable, contract mount making will be charged at the contractor’s rate.
Appraisal The appraisal fee will be borne by the Borrower.
Insurance The cost of all risk fine arts “wall-to-wall” insurance for the duration of the loan period (in transit and on location) of each object’s appraised value will be borne by the Borrower.
Packing Costs of material and labor will be borne by the Borrower.
Shipping The shipping method will be specified by the Museum. All transportation costs (carrier, customs, brokerage, freight forwarding, additional security, etc.) will be borne by the Borrower.
Courier The Borrower is responsible for the courier’s transportation costs, accommodations, and meals associated with the courier’s work.
Loan Cancellation Fees
Should the Borrower cancel a loan request after a cost, such as conservation, has been incurred by the Museum on behalf of the Borrower, the Borrower is responsible for that cost. In addition, once a formal loan request has been received from a non-University of California Borrower, and review by the Museum staff has begun, if the loan request is cancelled, withdrawn or postponed indefinitely by the Borrower, a Loan Request Cancellation Fee of $500 will be charged to the prospective Borrower.
Recall of Loan
The Museum reserves the right to recall the loan for any reason, and requires return of the loan within three weeks.
Loan Period & Renewal of Loan
Loans are generally made for a maximum of twelve months. Requests for renewal must be made in writing and received thirty days before the expiration of the loan. If more than two renewal requests are made, the loan will be reconsidered by the loan review committee.
Return of Loan
The Borrower agrees to return the loan only to the Museum, by the date specified in the signed loan agreement, unless other arrangements are agreed to in advance by the Museum.