Top 5 Art Shipping & Handling Considerations
Art shipping and handling are skills that are complicated and often difficult to get right. Union Hall aims to help illuminate the secrets of the craft and make it more approachable to the wider creative community.
‘Rough Gems presents’ is a series of free workshops led by professionals in the art industry, designed for emerging creatives and arts professionals to gain new skills and refine existing knowledge. In this blog we will cover the following Top 5 Art Shipping and Handling Considerations outlined in our 2022 ‘Rough Gems presents’ workshop with Whit Sibley:
Materials for Packing and Shipping
Creating Slips & Crates
Labeling
Fine Art Shippers
Insurance and Reporting
Whit Sibley, owner of Friday Works, during a Rough Gems presents workshop
1. Materials for Packing and Shipping
Materials needed to make a crate or slipcase for artwork:
Unused, double-walled boxes or crates made of cardboard or wood.
Packing foam (Polyurethane or Polyethylene for fragile works). Shippers should only use bubble wrap for glass or ceramic objects.
Muslin or polyester or other pH neutral wrapping fabrics
Packing tape
Stickers/Postage
Box-Knives
Sharpies
2. Creating Slipcases & Crates
for delicate artworks that contain glass, ceramic, or other fragile pieces
When creating a vessel for your artwork, only use double-walled cardboard boxes/ wooden crates for glass or ceramics. If shipping Paintings or prints, a slip must be created using a poly plastic sheet, bubble wrap, and cardboard. To make your box, measure your artwork and give approximately 3 inches of space on each side to give enough room for the packing foams to ensure the object is secure.
Fragile works require at least a 3 inches for the base. The object's thick base should be made of either polyurethane or polyethylene. Later, The object will have its shape cut out of the form to create a cavity space for the object to sit into during shipping. For paintings and prints, wrap the thing in a single layer of poly plastic to ensure visibility, then proceed with another layer of bubble wrap with the bubbles facing away from the image.
For fragile objects, after the base layer is put into the crate, find another piece of foam equal in thickness to the objects being shipped.
Center the Fragile Object into the center and create an outline using a sharpie around the object.
On the top layer of foam for fragile objects, situate the mounting and other materials on top; however, be careful when selecting to use a single box for mounts and artwork, as the weight of the mounts may damage or destroy the object.
Reference the following PDF for step-by-step instructions with images on how to pack fragile artwork in boxes and crates. The document can also be a template for 2d box slip or crate creation. To order a pre-made box with foam, this StrongBox will be able to create custom and standard-sized containers ready for shipping.
Whit Sibley demonstrating how to create a custom slip case for boxes
3. Labeling
required for the safety of a container during the shipping process
When sealing and labeling a box, stickers are essential for handlers. All labels will need to be attached at the TOP of the box/crate and added as a precaution for the safety of the object. Labeling of the package should include the dimensions of the work, artist name, title, and sending and return addresses. It doesn’t hurt to add arrows on all of the sides of the box pointing upwards (towards the top of the box) to communicate how a box should be carried, placed, and stored.
Labels can either be printed from templates online, hand drawn, or purchased at the time of shipment from the carrier’s storefront.
4. Fine Art Shippers
Consider using any of these national and international Fine Art Shippers for large, fragile, or climate sensitive artworks:
5. Insurance & Reporting
Consider purchasing shipping insurance and always document the conditions of a package in case a report needs to filed
Purchasing shipping insurance is highly recommended for the security of all artwork. The amount of insurance purchased from the shipping company you will be using can vary on a number of factors, and should be researched before purchasing insurance. It is unlikely that the full value of the artwork will be returned to the artist through an insurance claim. This variable is dependent on the insurance provider and their policies.
Documenting the condition of artwork before it is shipping, and as it arrives to its destination is crucial for insurance purposes and for the record keeping of the gallery or person to whom the work is on loan to or purchased from. Inspect artwork within 48 hours of receiving it. Do not wait until right before exhibition opening to unpack works.
Keep in mind that carriers have different requirements for filing an insurance claim. Check the required shipping guidelines, timeline, documentation, and proof necessary before deciding on a carrier and method of shipping insurance. Here are few examples of proof of documentation needed for insurance purposes:
Photo or video evidence of the package upon arrival with the shipping label and all external labels viewable
Photos of the step-by-step process of unpacking
360 degree view of the artwork once unpackaged with detailed notes on any cracks, flaws, or points of concern. Use reference photos or videos from the artist and communicate all damages to them immediately
Commercial invoice or appraisal of contents
If an artwork is damaged, look into an arts conservatory to repair it like the WCCFA
‘Rough Gems presents’ reflects Union Hall’s commitment to support the professional development of early career artists and curators. We hope that as a result of making these free workshops accessible to the public, that artists, creators and collectors alike will be equipped with the knowledge needed to empower themselves in their growing practice. If you are curious about attending a workshop like this in the future, be on the lookout for 2024 ‘Rough Gems presents’ workshop announcements via our newsletter, social media channels (linked in our website footer), or event page. If you are looking to hire art shipping and handling support in Denver and the Rocky Mountain region, we highly suggest our friends at Friday Works!