Do want to find out more about insurance for art and artists?
- Do you need insurance for your art, artistic assets or artist's studio?
- Are you exhibiting your art - and need insurance re. damage or public liability?
- Are you planning an art class and need insurance for public liability?
- Are you working from home - and need to ensure you don't invalidate you domestic cover?
- Are you opening an art school and need full cover for all relevant risks and liabilities
- Are you opening an art gallery and want full cover for all business risks?
- Are you moving your art - and need cover for transportation of paintings, sculpture etc?
- Do you need insurance for an art installation?
- Do you need insurance cover for an art collection - but haven't got a clue where to start looking?
In Summary - what this site covers
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This site aims to
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QUICK LINKS: Art Insurance POLICIES for Art, Art Studios, Artists, Art Galleries and Art Collections Contents are listed below.... Together with a note about what this site NOT cover! |
ART INSURANCE: Contents of this page
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WHAT SORT OF INSURANCE DOES AN ARTIST NEED?
Overview of different types of insurance relevant to art and artists
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PRACTICAL REALITIES - and WHY YOU NEED INSURANCE
Stories from scenes of fire, flooding and tornadoes affecting artists, art schools and art galleries - if you need reminding Plus case studies, images and videos. INSURANCE: INFORMATION AND ONLINE ADVICE More about insurance for art, artists and the art business
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COMPENDIUM: INSURANCE POLICIES - IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
ON OTHER PAGES: Check out what insurance policies for artists and art collections are available...
ON OTHER PAGES: Check out what insurance policies for artists and art collections are available...
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In the UK In Ireland
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In North America (USA & Canada)
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What this site does NOT cover
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PLEASE NOTE:
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I'm in the same boat as you - just looking to see what's out there.
The only difference between you and me is that I created a website which tries to pull relevant information together in one place! This site might help you but it can't provide definitive answers to all situations. I also cannot advise you on your personal situations Only you can satisfy yourself as to what insurance cover you need and whether the policy you buy does all it needs to. |
PLEASE NOTE
I don't know which adverts you see (Google tailors them to you and YOU control what you see)
I do not specifically endorse any services offered by advertisements.
I'm also not responsible in any way for the services provided at the other end of a link.
I don't know which adverts you see (Google tailors them to you and YOU control what you see)
I do not specifically endorse any services offered by advertisements.
I'm also not responsible in any way for the services provided at the other end of a link.
Before you start.....
Why this page exists
I've been wondering whether artists insure everything they need to. Given the size and scope of art studios, the nature of art materials and equipment we all use and the extent to which artwork moves in and out of the studio on its way to galleries and exhibitions, it makes me wonder if artists insure all they need to or whether they insure for the minimum they have to or just fail to make any adequate provision for insurance because it's all too complicated and/or too expensive.
In recent times I've know four artists lose their entire studios due to fire or tornados. It makes me wonder whether any of us might experience a similar catastrophic incident and live to regret failing to insure properly.
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Below are the results of my very first 'Insurance for Artists" POLL on my Making A Mark Blog that I ran in 2012.
There's one overwhelming conclusion to be drawn from my poll which asked "What aspects of your art and art business do you insure?" |
You can check out the current/ongoing poll in the next section BELOW.
- Compare your response to those of other artists
- See if the results have changed
The results of very first Insurance for Artists Poll on my blog - 43% of bloggers have no insurance for anything related to art or their activities as an artist
(From "What aspects of your art and art business do you insure?" 30 Mar 2012)
INSURANCE FOR ARTWORK, ARTISTS & YOUR ART BUSINESS
Types of insurance relevant to artwork and artists
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What sort of insurance does an artist need?
These are some of the different types of insurance which artists might need - depending on:
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What do you insure as an artist?
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Artists take a variety of approaches to the insurance of their work.
However I now know four artists who have lost their studios and everything in it to catastrophic events - and it makes you think and reassess just what should be covered. (see below for their stories) Try the Poll (in the yellow box) and see how you compare to other artists.
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ARTIST - Assets
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ART BUSINESS - Liabilities
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ARTWORK - Despatch
Insurance depends on
ARTWORK - Exhibition You need insurance for artwork that is consigned to:
THE ARTISTS STUDIO Insurance for the structure and facilities
ART MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT As we all know art materials and equipment are sometimes far from cheap - and accidents do happen
ART BUSINESS INCOME (Business Interruption) This provides cover for loss of income due to:
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ART SPACE WITH VISITS FROM THE PUBLIC (eg Art Gallery; Artist's Studio)
The following require public liability insurance (see below for more details)
See What happens if you break an artwork? - the professional response from most museums is they call in the insurers and they pay to fix the artwork ARTIST RUN WORKSHOPS AND ART CLASSES
COMMISSIONS - PUBLIC INSTALLATIONS cover for the risks associated with:
PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY
PRODUCT LIABILITY
ARTISTS AS EMPLOYERS
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REFERENCE
- Buying insurance? Be certain you understand it | Be Smart about Art - explains why the insurance you have may not cover everything you think it does - and why you need to think carefully about what you need and read the small prin
Public Liability Insurance (UK)
Legal aspects of your 'duty of care' - covering your liability as an artist towards third parties - will vary from country to country.
Below is an overview of the situation in the UK.
Below is an overview of the situation in the UK.
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What is Public Liability Insurance?
This covers you for your legal liabilities if you cause any injury to people (including death) and/or damage to the property of third parties. These liabilities usually arise when people are working in and/or present in a property (including the associated land) where you have a legal duty of care to provide a safe and healthy environment. Your artwork might also cause injury or death or damage and public liability insurance also covers this - including the installed artwork for those who commissioned it. |
Why does an artist need public liability insurance?
To be able to work or hold any activities in any public space - or a space which members of the public can access (eg open studios, workshops in the artists studio) you must have public liability cover. If renting the space this is often a condition of the rental. Unless you can provide adequate cover, you will will be unable to work or deliver activities in any public space (eg live events) or any space which members of the public can access If you own the space you can risk being sued for injury or death or damage if anything untoward were to happen. Public Liability Insurance cover often runs to millions of pounds. |
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Information about Public Liability Insurance
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This was the result of an earlier version of this poll. Note the score for Public Liability Insurance!
Results of POLL: Being an Artist - what do you insure? (Version #1)
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Specialist Insurance for Art Businesses
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BUSINESS INTERRUPTION / REVENUE PROTECTION FOR ARTISTS
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Issues:
Over and above the need to think seriously about insurance, it can take time to get back on your feet. Do you have a back up plan for
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It all started with questions from clients regarding art fairs. What happens from a legal perspective if the organisers need to cancel or postpone the fair? What happens if an art fair that the client has paid for cancels their stand and they can’t exhibit, despite all the associated costs they have already incurred? We reviewed force majeure clauses, supplier and exhibitor terms and conditions, sponsorship agreements and insurance policies. We helped clients negotiate where there was scope to do so. One thing is certain: whatever legal position art businesses find themselves in, this is no fun for anyone.
What now for art businesses? Thoughts from an art lawyer in a time of crisis
REFERENCE:
- UK regulator to seek court ruling on business interruption insurance | Financial Times - The UK Business Regulator seeks to sort out the controversy round whether business interruption insurance covers pandemics - or not - if businesses are required to close.
- What now for art businesses? Thoughts from an art lawyer in a time of crisis | Apollo Magazine - specifically in relation to art fairs
- The Art Market Adjusts: Insurance implications for fine art collectors and exhibitions | withersworldwide - which highlights one of the reasons why business interruption insurance may not be payable in relation to closure due to a notifiable disease
- Coronavirus – Business Interruption Insurance | Macbeths
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VEHICLE INSURANCE
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Issues:
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GOODS IN TRANSIT
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Covers business items being moved from one place to another from theft, loss or damage Issues:
To establish a claim re damage you need:
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Specialist Insurance for Artists
HEALTH INSURANCE FOR ARTISTS
(e.g. for those who don't have access to the NHS in the UK)
(e.g. for those who don't have access to the NHS in the UK)
- Working with hazardous materials
- Payment of bills for healthcare
REALLY IMPORTANT!! Risks not covered by Insurance
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UNDERINSURANCE
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FAILURE TO PROTECT PROPERTY
If a property is in an area known to be at risk from a flood then the assumption is made that assets (e.g. artwork and art materials) are stored off the floor |
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The practical realities - if you should need reminding...
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If you're not one for putting your head in the sand....
Here are some stories of the practical realities faced by artists, art schools and art galleries when disaster stared them in the face. |
I highlighted most of the stories below on my blog when it happened because it seemed to me everybody needs to remember that one day it could be YOU!
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FIRE DAMAGE
Firefighting, Glasgow School of Art. Source: Wikimedia Commons
FIRE: CASE STUDY - Art School UK
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FIRE: CASE STUDY - Art School USA
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In 2014, fire raged through the iconic Grade A Listed Mackintosh building of the Glasgow School of Art designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. After the fire they had a very major project to work out how to reinstate this iconic building - and how to raise the funds to do this.
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On 13th February 2013, The Pratt Institute in New York was seriously damaged by fire which took nearly 170 firefighters to extinguish. It destroyed the studios of the Fine Art Seniors and their artwork for their senior projects. The Institute focused on resilience and reputational issues as well as the need to rebuild.
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FIRE: CASE STUDY - Art School UK
On the night of 15/16 June 2018, fire AGAIN raged through the Mackintosh Building at the Glasgow School of Art (see ANOTHER Major Fire at Rennie Mackintosh's Glasgow School of Art). It lost its roof and top floors - and all the refurbishment done after the last fire in 2014.
Questions will be asked as to what additional fire protection and precautions had been added after the last fire....
Questions will be asked as to what additional fire protection and precautions had been added after the last fire....
Aerial view of what remains of the Mackintosh Building after the fire in June 2018 - released by Police Scotland
FIRE: CASE STUDY - Artist USA
What on earth do you grab when you think ... maybe ... your house will burn down??? I grabbed: |
Carol Marine (Painting a Day) and her family used to live in Texas - until a fire storm burned down their house and her newly built studio and all her materials and equipment on 4th September 2011. They got out with minutes to spare. This is their story.
Artist Proof Studio burned to the ground on March 9, 2003, ten years after its founding, Artist Proof Studio burned to the ground.
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All that remains of Carol's brand new studio after the fire. Her home was also levelled. They had insurance to start again...
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WIND & WATER DAMAGE - HURRICANES, TORNADOES, FLOODING
TORNADO: CASE STUDY
it took only seconds to blow our house apart, snap off every one of our beautiful oaks, flatten the surrounding forest, sweep away the barn, trash both vehicles, and bury everything we own under a mountain of debris. |
Debby Kaspari is an artist who draws birds (see Drawing the Motmot). She lost her home and studio in Oklahoma on 10th May 2010 due to an EF4 tornado which was half a mile wide and travelling at 60mph. She and partner were prepared and survived in their underground steel box in their garage floor. She wrote about the experience in a short series of posts which graphically illustrate why "total destruction" needs to be considered to be a practical reality
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Debbi Kaspari's home in shambles under fallen tree trunks, branches and crowns.
HURRICANES, FLOODING & WATER DAMAGE: CASE STUDIES
Below you can see articles and images relating to destruction associated with:
- Superstorm Sandy (2012) - which hit art galleries in New York very badly
- Hurricane Harvey (2017) which hit artists homes / stock / studios in the southern states of the USA
- Hurricane Irma (2017) which hit artists homes / stock / studios in Florida
Many dealers are not openly discussing their losses pending talks with restorers, insurance agents and lawyers, not to mention artists. Insurance companies now routinely send engineers to individual galleries, and have specific requirements about conditions. ...premiums will likely vary on a number of factors. These include the type of art (some types being more fragile than others), the geographic location (risk of flood, hurricane, or wildfire), the specific location (public display or private collection), whether the art is stored in a vacant facility or not, and how frequently the art will be moved. Lexology “Climate change is a great concern to the art insurance industry, particularly because of the hurricanes we are seeing,” |
New York Art Galleries were hit hard by Superstorm Sandy in 2012 when it flooded the city - reaching five feet in depth in some of the Chelsea streets where many art galleries were located. Afterwards the priorities were renovation of the buildings and restoration of the art
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TIPS FOR ARTISTS, ART GALLERIES AND ART COLLECTORS
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Read the stories behind these tips in The Art of Art Insurance: A Practical Guide for Artists, Galleries, and Collectors
Did you know that if the artist is still living that only they can determine whether and how the artwork is repaired? |
FLOODING CASE STUDY - HOUSTON
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Houston Art Galleries were prepared for the devastating rain and flooding associated with Hurricane Harvey.
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Houston Artists were less prepared. Many have suffered significant losses of artwork, materials and studios. Many don't have insurance to help support their recovery. However the local arts groups have rallied around and are supporting artists getting back on their feet
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FLOODING CASE STUDY - HURRICANE IRMA
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Insurers are getting more savvy about how to protect their clients from submitting huge insurance claims!
Believing that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, some insurers will send in specialists to prepare a home for disaster, for instance, while others will pay to move valuables out of harm’s way. Museums and cultural institutions across Miami are preparing as well, announcing widespread closures and watching the weather in advance of potential landfall. .... museums in Miami have well-developed plans for securing and transporting artworks in the event of extreme weather. In general, artists had better warnings about what they needed to think about both before and after the flooding associated with recent hurricanes.
Below is a very useful video about what to do if a flood damages your studio - including WARNINGS about the risks associated with floods (e.g. toxic mould which can damage your lungs) A flood is not water. A flood is a toxic substance usually. |
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Insurance: Information & Advice
Posts providing information and advice for artists about insurance are few and far between - hence why this resource was developed in the first place. As I find new and useful links to advice online I'll be adding them into this section.
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Making A Mark: insurance for art, artists and the art business
More about insurance for art at peril from the weather / natural environment
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More about insurance for artists and art businesses
More about insurance for art being transported
federal law permits interstate freight carriers to limit their responsibility to a nominal sum even when the damage is caused by their negligence |
Insurance - Working from Home
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Working from home may
For example: third party public liability arises if people have an accident in your home (eg during tuition provided at home; visitors to your home studio). They are NOT there as domestic visitors and covered by you home insurance. They are there because of your business and hence you're NOT covered by your house insurance - and indeed you may be invalidating your house insurance by running a business from home Then there's
Don't forget - dealing with the insurance aspects does not mean you have addressed all the other relevant matters such as planning permission; mortgagor or leaseholder consent and tax implications on sale of your house (see Selling Art from Home) |
DO NOT FORGET TO READ THE SMALL PRINT!
Even if you secure insurance for working from home, you have not finished. Check whether the domestic insurer for your house and contents is happy with this. I recommend you start by reading all the small print and the statements you make in agreeing to insurance cover to ensure that one does not invalidate the other! Why? If you don't tell your insurer re buildings and contents that you work from home and you make a claim in the future, the insurance company may decide not to pay out. Check whether any agreement or discounted price ties you to an insurer for a specific time period longer than a year. Why? You pay far more than you need to for longer than you need to. |
ART APPRAISAL - for insurance purposes
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An Art Appraisal is an Independent Valuation of the worth or replacement value of an artwork by a qualified third party with relevant expertise and knowledge. (e.g. an individual or company with no financial interest)
Art Appraisal can be for various purposes (donation, tax, divorce, mediation, liquidation, replacement, and inheritance) but one of the main reasons for appraisal is for insurance. Insurance companies pay out for artwork that is lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed - not on what YOU think art is worth - but rather on what an independent assessment by a qualified appraiser says art is worth. Artwork which is damaged rather than destroyed needs to be evaluated in terms of what it might cost to remedy the damage. |
Documentation required for Art Insurance Appraisals:
Sales records which relate to sales to friends and family have no intrinsic value in terms of establishing a marketplace valuation. Archival Records: In the event of fire or other destruction, it can be a sensible idea to have all records in relation to valuation of artwork archived in a place separate from where the art is kept. |
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Items of Record for an Art Appraisal
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....an artist is not necessarily the best source for valuing their art, especially if there are limited documented records of their sales. Price estimates from the artist are important to consider when determining values for their work, but since almost every artist wants their art to be worth as much as possible, simply expecting third-parties to take their word on prices is usually not enough. Insurance companies know this well and can choose to dispute an artist's valuation of their art if necessary. |
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REFERENCE:
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ONLINE PRICING RESOURCES:
These can help to establish reference prices - some require a subscription to access pricing data SOCIETIES OF APPRAISERS These support people wanting to become appraisers and are not really geared up for those wanting appraisals. However they can provide some educational courses accessible to non-members.
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INSURANCE POLICIES for artists and art collections
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Over time, I aim to try and crowd-source recommendations about different insurers - and which to avoid. If you have any specific recommendations please email me (see form at end)
This is a link to information on separate pages about
Insurance for Artists in Ireland - I recommend you review Insurance for Artists by Visual Artists Ireland which provides information and recommendations about insurance brokers in Ireland who deal with artists |
DISCLAIMER: The inclusion of a link to a website does NOT endorse or otherwise indicate the organisation provides either a reputable and effective service. However one has to start somewhere when inviting quotes! |
Insurance - Commissions / Public Art
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A very specialist area of art insurance relates to:
You cannot assume that an insurer covering art will automatically provide this cover. As an artist you also need to be very clear as to who is liable (the artist or the commissioner) for what aspects of damage covered by insurance e.g. failure to deliver to 'time is of the essene' deadline and damage to the art after installation. If you are liable as an artist then the cost of the insurance premiums rolling forward need to be prived into the quotation given for the piece. |
REFERENCE:
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Are you disaster resilient? Do you use risk management?
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One of the ways of
READ MORE about Risk Management |
The International Council of Museums has decided it needs to develop a NEW ICOM-Disaster Resilient Museums Committee.
REFERENCE:
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Would you care to share?
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QUERIES:
Do you have any queries about insurance for art and artists? (I can't promise to be able to provide answers but your questions will help inform the development of this page.) RECOMMENDATIONS: Do you know of any companies or sites which you would be happy to recommend? PLEASE SHARE: If you think this site would be useful to other artists you know please share it - social icons can be found below and at the top of the page. |
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