In partnership with
Accessible Loans Program
Making art loans accessible, equitable, and sustainable
Transforming loan practices in the US – and beyond
The Ki Futures Accessible Loans Program empowers museum professionals to update their loan practices so collections can be shared more easily, equitably, and sustainably – without compromising on care.
95% of museum collections are in storage, and restrictive requirements from loan agreements creates obstacles to art access. Current practices leave collections underutilized, audiences less engaged, and museums with missed opportunities to build value and fulfill their public mission.
The Accessible Loans Program addresses these challenges and empowers museums to be able to say yes – yes to sharing collections, yes to collaboration, and yes to sustainable practice. Through structured training, coaching, peer learning, expert guidance, and tools, participants:
Remove systemic barriers to lending.
Update loan agreements in line with current best practice.
Gain confidence in navigating and negotiating loans to successfully and safely enable more access to art.
Increase efficiency and streamline practices.
The Ki Futures Accessible Loans Program is currently available fully funded for all museums in the US participating in the Art Bridges Cohort Program. Not in the US? Get in touch to find out how you can get involved!
What participants gain from the program
During the seven-month program, Ki works directly with museums – individually and in groups – to unpack the realities and needs of loans. From collections needs and climate control practices to negotiating requirements, participants gain knowledge and skills for successfully executing loans in the safest and most sustainable way.
Project outcomes include:
- updated loan process, practices and agreements, templates and supporting documentation, including language and requirements
- updated workflows that work for your specific museum and your unique collection
- implementing actionable strategies that increase accessibility and reduce risk
- training in and utilization of tools and technologies to support state-of-the art practice and digital literacy
Whether you’re a small institution eager to borrow works or a larger one looking to lend more equitably, you’ll join a growing movement of museums proving that updating loan practices is safe, achievable, and transformative.
Why the sector needs change
Outdated and restrictive loan agreements are one of the biggest barriers to collection sharing. They slow collaboration, amplify inequities, and place undue strain on staff and resources.
Ki recognizes that the arts sector operates within complex logistical, financial, and ethical frameworks. While the intention of the art world is that art is for everyone – that is currently not the case in practice. And without tailored support, sustainable change is difficult to achieve.
The Accessible Loans Program was created to support institutions of all sizes to overcome these obstacles. Together, we’re building a lending ecosystem where art is inclusive, exhibitions more collaborative, and operations more sustainable.
“The biggest impact that art can have is to be enjoyed. When we start thinking about the risks of lending objects, we are forgetting the rewards – and really the core reason why we do what we do. Keeping objects in storage or prohibiting them from reaching new audiences is inherently against our purpose and mission as museums. But we can do this in a way that isn’t a compromise – we can find a win – win – win. Let’s make sure we all have access to art – and let’s make sure that we are doing it in the best way possible.”
How the Program Works
The Ki Futures Accessible Loans Program is a seven-month training and coaching course based on the Getting Climate Control Under Control Program and developed in collaboration with the Art Bridges Cohort Program.
Rooted in science, the program works with participants to investigate current loan practices and documentation and then identifies what the actual needs of the collection are. By aligning loan practices and language with the mission and values of the museum and the team, updated practices are more sustainable and accessible – all while upholding best collections care standards.
This hybrid program includes coaching, online training, and in-person workshops to support teams in learning about and implementing updated practices and technological support. Through these resources and a unique combination of community approaches and individualized support, museums gain the confidence to extend their reach and impact while ensuring the highest standards of accessibility and preservation.
US museums can apply to the program as part of the Art Bridges Cohort Program – which fully funds participation in the Ki Futures Accessible Loans Program and supports additional art-sharing costs.
Museums outside the US may inquire directly through Ki Futures.
Museums across the US are reimagining what’s possible through accessible, equitable loan practices.
Apply to the program today to join them
Science-Backed Standards for Collections Care
Climate control is one of the most common – and, until now, most challenging – barriers in loan agreements. Many requirements are based on decades-old standards that no longer reflect current scientific research or the actual needs of objects.
The Accessible Loans Program works with museums to reassess rigid, outdated requirements and focus on science-backed guidance and the realities of practical application. Participants learn how to navigate requirements through updates and negotiations so they are both safe and attainable – and how to turn an automatic “no” into a confident “yes.”
It is important to understand that every collection – like every object – is unique. This program does not believe in one-size-fits all templates or practices or magic “standards”. This is why Ki works with each museum individually to ensure that the program outputs are tailored to the context and needs of each institution. Every museum is different, and our practices and loans should reflect that to ensure best practice – in collaboration with our colleagues and empowered by science-backed data and knowledge. By understanding the science behind loan requirements, educating ourselves on our own collection’s needs, and feeling confident in talking about this with our partners, we find it’s easy to say yes to sharing our collections with our friends everywhere.
Updating loan agreements is both safe and achievable – and every adjustment helps build a more accessible, equitable, and sustainable lending ecosystem.
Smaller and rural museums are systematically under-represented, creating a measurable structural participation bias in loans.
Source: Encouraging Collections Mobility
95% of museum collections are in storage and have limited or no public access.
Source: ICCROM-UNESCO
In-person couriers account for 45-64% of loan emissions.
Virtual couriering is one of the single biggest decarbonization levers in loans.
Source: Life Cycle Assessments of Loans and Exhibitions
It is our duty and imperative to loan objects. From an accessibility perspective and social justice standpoint, art is for all and lending art is creating a wealth of wellbeing for communities everywhere. Sustainable loans are not only about access, but about mitigating negative environmental impacts. We are aware of the carbon footprint of loans, and while we know that we want to share objects and we are not going to stop loaning art, we want to make sure it is being done in the most environmentally responsible way.
Loan agreements that encourage reusable crates and virtual couriers continue to align with sustainable action – advocating for strategies that mitigate the biggest carbon footprint of lending works.
Powered by
Articheck – the leading digital platform for condition reporting, artwork oversight, and risk management – is the technology partner of the Accessible Loans Program. Museums gain full access to the Articheck platform, including custom-built loan management tools, as well as hands-on guidance to integrate digital solutions into their lending workflows.
Participants learn how to create professional digital condition reports, manage shipments, and collaborate efficiently across teams and institutions. These tools help reduce risk, harness artwork data, and support the long-term protection of collections.
- digital condition reporting
- remote oversight of shipments (virtual couriering)
- loan management
Become part of the Ki Futures Accessible Loans Program – and help shape a more open, collaborative museum future.
Alignment with international best practice and policy
The Ki Futures Accessible Loans program aligns with:
– AAM’s museum accreditation scheme | ICOM-CC – IIC’s joint declaration | Bizot Green Protocol | AIC | IIC | CCI
