Three Rules for Storing Artwork

If you are the owner of an art gallery or just a casual art collector, it’s a good idea to know how to preserve art when it comes time to store it off-site. There are three things to consider when storing artwork, and they will ensure that your collection retains and gains value over time.

First, be sure to package and protect it correctly. The art should be free of dust and dirt. It should not be packed away with loose debris attached to it, or the state of the art can worsen over time. Give it a good dusting before you pack it up.

Think back to when you first purchased the art and how it was packaged. That will give you a good starting place for how to determine how to package it for storage. Be sure to protect the edges with some kind of cardboard and invest in acid-free paper. The paper should be placed on both sides of the art piece. The acid-free paper is built to protect artwork while in long-term storage.

Second, to maintain proper preservation, artwork requires specific humidity and temperature levels. The facility you select should have the ability to control both these factors. Artwork is made up of specific material types, which require special needs. Discuss with the storage manager those needs and the best climate-controlled options for storing your precious pieces. A good rule of thumb is to store art at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit and at 50 percent humidity.

Finally, always store the art upright and give it room enough to breathe. Once you have safely secured and packaged your item to store, have selected the storage facility and transported it from its former residence to its new long-term home, you will want to pay special attention to where it is placed among other items in the unit. Be sure that its placement doesn’t accidentally place it in harm’s way.

Store it upright to avoid stepping on it or having anything fall onto it as other items are moved around in the storage unit. Give it plenty of room, and do not put any other items on top of the piece. The weight of additional items can cause damage by making unwanted indentions.

Whether you are switching out gallery pieces or giving your home décor a different look, consider following these guidelines to pack and store artwork properly. Please visit the website for information on climate controlled storage in Salinas.