COVID-19 FAQs
We’re currently operating with a reduced team, so may take a little longer than usual to reply - please bear with us.
1. How do I submit a loan request?
Please send a loan request letter, addressed to Deborah Smith, Director of the Arts Council Collection, including a summary of the exhibition, along with a facility report and three months’ worth of environmental readings to loans@southbankcentre.co.uk. If you cannot provide all required documents for any reason, do let us know and we can advise on how to proceed. We ask that loan requests are submitted at least six months prior to an exhibition opening where possible to give our team sufficient time to process and prepare all outgoing loans. As most of our team are now working remotely, please do not send loan requests by post.
2. Is it possible for the organiser of a touring exhibition to request loans on behalf of other institutions?
Yes, it is. In addition to submitting a loan request, we also require a facility report and three months’ worth of environmental readings for all venues participating in the tour.
3. When is your next loans meeting and when am I likely to hear back?
Our loan meetings tend to take place towards the end of every month and we will aim to get back to you within a week of this meeting.
Please see the Loans section for dates of forthcoming Loans Meetings.
4. I don't work in a gallery or museum, is there a way I can borrow from you?
Our Long Loan scheme provides loans to schools, universities, colleges, charities, libraries and hospitals. These loans are generally between three and five years in length and the Hayward Gallery technical team carries out the delivery and installation. There is a fee for these loans based on the value and number of artworks requested. For further information, please contact loans@southbankcentre.co.uk
5. I need to postpone or extend my loan, what should I do?
As this is a very uncertain time for all borrowers, we are working to accommodate delays or extensions to loans where possible. Please email loans@southbankcentre.co.uk and we can advise on availability of loans and any required paperwork to facilitate date changes.
6. How do I request more information about a specific work in your Collection?
Please email loans@southbankcentre.co.uk with the details of the work and the information you are looking for and we will get back to you as soon as we can. We are able to send viewing copies for most video and digital works in the Collection.
7. Who do I need to contact regarding online image reproductions?
We recognise that there is an increased demand for image reproductions as many galleries are turning to digital platforms. We are now able to access our image library remotely and to provide high-res images of the works in our Collection. Please email loans@southbankcentre.co.uk with any enquiries.
8. Who should I contact about submitting work for acquisition by the Collection?
Please contact acquisitions@southbankcentre.co.uk. Download our artists application form here.
9. Who should I contact if I’d like to take an ACC Touring Exhibition at my venue?
Please send your enquiry to loans@southbankcentre.co.uk and we will ensure the relevant staff member gets back to you.
10. What’s happening with ACC's Curators’ Day series?
Unfortunately, the next series of events have been postponed until further notice. The opening of the ACC Touring Exhibition, Breaking the Mould: Women in Sculpture since 1945, has been postponed until March 2021. The Liverpool Biennial has also been postponed until 2021, dates tbc.
If you registered interest for an event we’ll be in touch via email when we have further updates.
We will continue to explore ways of sharing the Collection across our digital platforms during this period of exhibition closures. Please sign up to receive our newsletter or follow us on Instagram and Twitter for regular content updates and to enjoy digital highlights from the Collection.