Loans
The National Galleries of Scotland is a major contributor to the international exhibitions circuit. In an average year we lend between 400 and 600 artworks to venues ranging from our sister museums and art galleries here in Edinburgh, to art centres, palazzos, castles, churches and sculpture parks all over the world. You may have spotted Billy Connolly on Benbecula and An Old Woman Cooking Eggs in Naples. We also have 287 artworks on long-term loan to 35 venues.
We are particularly committed to widening access to our collection within Scotland. Short and long-term loans, in addition to touring exhibitions, ensure that communities outside the central belt are able to experience works from old masters to challenging contemporary art.
Temporary Loan Restrictions
National Galleries of Scotland Loans Programme 2011/12
We are currently undertaking a major development project to transform the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Work has been underway since last year and the re-installation of works will commence in the spring of 2011 in readiness for opening the following November. To assist with the management of this project we have refocused the work of our central team of registrars, art handlers and conservators.
With this in mind we have concluded that, with immediate effect, we will be unable to consider further requests to borrow from the NGS collection until after September 2011. All requests received from this point will still be subject to a notice period of 6 months for national and 12 months for international loans.
All loans already approved for this period before the restrictions were put in place will of course be honoured, in addition to our ARTIST ROOMS programme.
This is a temporary measure and we look forward to sharing our collection once again in 2012.
John Leighton
Director-General
