Everyone dealing with art, from individual artists to collectors to large-scale galleries, needs to take proper care of moving art safely. In this process, correct and professional art packing and storage play key roles. These practices are critical for the preservation of the market value of art and the conservation of cultural heritage, and they start with the need to learn the nuances of packing art for transportation and storage.
Art Packing and Storage Fundamentals
So, how do you pack art so that it stays intact to all kinds of external factors? Here are the main points to consider.
Art Preparation in a Studio
The first steps of packing art for moving and storage should be taken right in the studio, even if you’re delegating the task to third-party professionals who will take your art object to its intended destination. Check the surface and determine the degree of its fragility. Double-check whether the work has fully cured or dried before proceeding with packaging. It’s also vital to document the art object’s condition with high-definition photos and videos, thus having solid proof of its initial condition in case something goes wrong.
Conservation-Grade Packing
Regardless of whether you’ll be packing art on your own or will hire a professional team, you need to use only museum-grade materials to ensure the full safety of the art object. These typically include glassine or archival tissue paper (non-adhesive, acid-free quality), art plastic, non-abrasive bubble wrap, corner protectors for framed art objects, cardboard sheets or foam boards for interlaying, and sturdy cardboard boxes as the outer layer of protection. Some artists also need custom wooden crates, which offer the highest degree of protection and are recommended in specific use cases.
Safe Storage Selection
Even if you pack your art object well, it may not withstand the damaging environmental factors if the storage isn’t right. Long-term storage facilities should have effective temperature, humidity, and air filtration controls to ensure the absence of warping, mold, and fading risks.
Entrust Your Art to Professionals
If you want to guarantee the full safety of comprehensive art packing and storage solutions for your art, DIY options may not be enough. In this case, you may turn to professionals like Fine Art Shippers to guarantee 360-degree protection for your creations. Our team of art handlers follows standard protocols during art packing and can prepare art objects of any type, dimensions, and fragility for short-term or long-term storage. Rely on tried and tested expertise to ensure your art always stays safe while in storage or transit.