ADC on Tour travels to dozens of exhibition venues across Australia each year. Works being transported can range from delicate ceramics to solid blocks of concrete and large scale exhibition furniture. To look after our precious cargo we love working with the team from IAS Fine Art Logistics, who provide specialised art transport solutions - preparing, packing and transporting our shows. We talked to IAS Business Development Manager, Ian Charman about fine art logistics internationally and advice for those wishing to tour art.
What do you do and who are your clients?
IAS is a comprehensive Fine Art Logistics Group, which has been in existence since 1987. We are the only truly national fine art logistics company, which is able to offer a full array of services. IAS provides museum quality domestic and international transport, packing, crating, installation, and both climate and non-climate controlled art storage to our clients.
IAS and our associated companies comprise the 4th largest art logistics group in the world, providing services to over 11,500 regular clients and handling over 150,000 artworks and objects per annum across town, across the country and across the world.
Our staff have a culture of relocating items which are delicate, fragile and valuable within a secure environment.
Our clientele ranges from major public institutions, government departments and agencies, multinational corporations, leading commercial galleries, artists and private collectors.
When it comes to moving artworks, have you seen any trends towards or away from international transport?
Ever since the advent of the Boeing 747 jumbo jet in the mid to late eighties, transporting artworks around the globe has increased and become less complicated and more affordable.
When transporting art internationally it is important that you are aware of all documentation requirements and all relevant duties and taxes.
Our International Department coordinates the relocation of artworks in and out of Australia from all continents of the world. Our staff are able to assist with all import and export documentation and offer advice on custom duties and taxes.
Our international team are also ASIC accredited which provides them with airport tarmac access, enabling them to supervise the loading and unloading of airfreight consignments.
Through our businesses, KNAB GmbH in Dusseldorf Germany, Artech in Seattle US and our sister company Helu-Trans in Hong Kong and China, we are able to provide a unique door to door international service for your artworks.
How do you make sure the artworks that you move don’t get damaged?
Many factors have to come together to minimise the risk of damage to your artworks whilst they are being transported. Factors to be considered include, the experience of the staff, quality of the equipment, understanding of correct handling techniques, artwork preparation, suitability of the vehicles and finally how the artworks are to be packed and crated.
When preparing artwork items for transportation, each item needs to be assessed individually. Each item has its own unique characteristics and structure, that needs to be considered in the packing methodology and solution.
IAS acquired T.E.D. Fine Art Australia, in 2006, who are the largest fine art packing & crating company in Australia. T.E.D. products are highly regarded worldwide and relied upon to safely carry everything from the most demanding examples of Fine Art and Cultural Heritage Material to unique scientific equipment. All of our T.E.D. employees are principally from museum backgrounds and have outstanding technical skills and experience in their field.
Our climate controlled vehicles include world leading temperature and humidity control, (21 degrees Celsius & 50% relative humidity) and are equipped with air-ride suspension, GPS Satellite tracking, satellite communications and registered sleeper cabins.
Importantly IAS staff have a culture of relocating items which are delicate, fragile and valuable within a secure environment. We have the distinction of having managed the logistics for more exhibitions, and the movement of more artworks, than any other art logistics company in Australia. The benefit of this is a greater level of understanding and experience in the market.
We have an established company culture of “secure” at all costs.
What piece of advice would you give to anyone looking to tour an exhibition?
The best piece of advice I would give to someone who is looking to tour an exhibition, is to involve us in your process as early as possible. By doing this we are able to provide advice on packing and crating, prepare vehicle load plans, transportation options and offer advice on the actual sequence of the exhibition. All of these components if addressed early increases the opportunity to identify and ultimately provide cost savings.
Another consideration is that IAS operates a national art shuttle service utilising our company owned art vehicles and specialist art drivers and handlers. Our art shuttle service links Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Darwin, North Queensland and Perth. These services operate on fixed schedules and are a cost-effective option to move single works of art and small exhibitions between the major metropolitan cities and regional centres.
Find out more of the services of IAS Fine Art Logistics here.
IAS is a valued partner to ADC on Tour.
Image: courtesy of IAS