Department for Culture Media and Sport
government indemnity scheme (GIS)
The GIS is a non-commercial insurance agreement that allows the public access to objects within the UK that might not otherwise be available. We do this by providing cost-free insurance cover for loss or damage whilst they are on short or long time loan.
Indemnities are issued by DCMS in England, and devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales, to non-national museums, galleries and libraries.
The GIS has covered many major exhibitions in the UK, including those of the work of Turner, Rembrandt, Canaletto, Monet and Van Gogh and many more.
GIS has also covered loans from around the world, including icons from Bulgaria, dinosaurs from China and mosaics from Italy.
It encourages non-national institutions to mount important exhibitions, or add to existing collections, without incurring the high cost of commercial insurance. It also enables them to borrow objects or works of art for study purposes.
How to apply
You must send in your application form and all requested information, no less than three months before the date that indemnity is due to start.
An application form, guidelines for applicants and further information can be downloaded from the Museum, Libraries and Archives Council website.
Indemnity for long-term loans is renewable every two years and an application form inviting you to renew will be sent in advance of the end date.
A separate application has to be made for each exhibition.
What does it cover?
The GIS can cover objects and works of art whilst they are in transit, to and from the borrowing venue, storage, setting up, display and dismantling. This saves museums and galleries about £5 million a year.
It covers objects on loan from private lenders and other non-national institutions. Any institution to which the public has access is eligible for indemnity cover, including local authority and university funded bodies and National Trust properties.
Download the MLA leaflet on the Government Indemnity Scheme for further information.
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