Arts and Artifacts Indemnity

To provide for indemnification against loss or damage for eligible art works, artifacts, and objects (1) when borrowed from abroad for exhibition in the U.S.; (2) when borrowed from the U.S. for exhibition abroad, preferably when there is an exchange

The National Endowment for the Arts administers the U.S. Government's Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Program on behalf of the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities (Federal Council). The Indemnity Program was created by Congress in 1975 for the purpose of minimizing the costs of insuring international exhibitions. In 2007, Congress expanded eligibility under the Program to include coverage of works of art owned by U.S. entities while on exhibition in the United States. U.S. nonprofit museums and organizations planning temporary exhibitions in the United States may be eligible for Domestic Indemnity coverage. U.S. nonprofit museums and organizations planning temporary exhibitions that involve bringing works of art and/or artifacts from abroad to the United States or sending works of art and/or artifacts from the United States abroad may be eligible for International Indemnity coverage. The indemnity agreement is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. In the event of loss or damage to an indemnified object, the Federal Council must certify the validity of the claim and request Congress to authorize payment.

Federal, State, local government, Federally recognized tribal entities, and nonprofit agencies and institutions may apply.

Federal, State, and local government entities, and nonprofit agencies and institutions will benefit. Audiences of indemnified exhibitions will also benefit.

Certificates of Indemnity will be issued for the following items insuring them against loss or damage: (1) works of art, including tapestries, paintings, sculpture, folk art, graphics, and craft arts; (2) manuscripts, rare documents, books, and other printed or published materials; (3) other artifacts or objects; and (4) photographs, motion pictures, or audio and video tape. Items must be of educational, cultural, historical or scientific value; and their exhibition, in the case of international exhibitions, must be certified by the Department of State to be in the national interest.

See the program guidelines at arts.gov for specific terms and conditions.

The time during which Indemnity coverage is in effect varies depending on the schedule of the particular exhibition.

Prior to applying, potential applicants are encouraged to consult with the Indemnity Administrator, National Endowment for the Arts, Washington, DC. All applicants must consult the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Guidelines available at arts.gov.

Contact the Indemnity Administrator.

The Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities makes final decisions on all awards based on recommendations from consulting panels of professionals in the field.

See the notice of funding opportunity posted on arts.gov for deadline information.

The length of time between application and notification is dependent on deadline dates and the meetings of the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities. Details can be found in the guidelines and program announcements available at arts.gov.

Requests for extensions and renewals must compete against new applications.