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Why University of Bergen Library chose not to send in-person couriers and saved €55k as a result

William Henry Jackson, “Petrified Fish Cut”, c1870, albumen print, Ron Perisho Collection
William Henry Jackson, “Petrified Fish Cut”, c1870, albumen print, Ron Perisho Collection

Rising to exhibition challenges

The University of Bergen Library identified three major challenges when organizing the three-year traveling exhibition ‘Across the West & Towards the North’:

  • Low budget
  • Lack of an in-person courier
  • Only two curators and two conservators

Collaborating across two continents, with three lenders and partners in six US states, would require seamless protocols and highly effective communication.

Data security concerns

During the pandemic, many have turned to ad-hoc tools such as Zoom, Skype, text, and Whatsapp messages to navigate complex art movement and installation processes.

Tracking shipments, packing/unpacking, and installations using multiple tools and platforms – none of which were designed for this purpose – is not only cumbersome and impractical, it also poses security risks. Tools such as Zoom and Whatsapp don’t have 2-factor authentication for both sender and receiver, raising concerns about data being hacked and stolen. Indeed, Facebook (Whatsapp owner and buyer of Zoom user data) has been hacked 8 times in the last 10 years, with half a billion users’ data breached. Additionally, free tools make their money by selling user data. It’s part of their T&Cs.

Just like with email, data can also be passed on and edited without the sender’s knowledge.

To protect lender data, and address the identified challenges, University of Bergen Library decided to use Courier Hub.

Media Checks can also be used to provide guidance, e.g. installation and packing instructions.
Media Checks can also be used to provide guidance, e.g. installation and packing instructions.

Saving €55k, 2 months staff time + 47 tons of carbon

Compared to using in-person couriers, Courier Hub saved an estimated 47.64 tons of CO2 from avoiding staff travel. Being able to oversee the project remotely also saved approximately 39 days of staff time.

Considering the costs of sending in-person couriers – including flights, hotels, and food expenses – Courier Hub also provided an additional cash saving of €55,000. Which, as project overseer Cecilie Marie Gottfred Petersen commented, is ‘remarkable’, particularly in a budget-conscious industry where institutions are increasingly looking to do more with less. Can our institutions afford not to make these savings?

Many staff have considered courier trips as perks of the job, but the reality of sitting in a truck or at the airport, and hopefully getting a few hours to see sights is not so glamorous in the end. In a cost of living crisis, it would perhaps be better to use this shift to courier hubs to negotiate a well deserved raise for those safeguarding our cultural heritage.

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Inspired by real art-world success stories? Articheck can help your organisation work more efficiently too, allowing you to dedicate more resources to protecting artwork. Find out more by requesting a demo or get started and start streamlining today.

Penn Art Gallery

“... the perfect tool for keeping track of the project, seeing how the sculpture was loaded onto the truck, and monitoring condition issues."

Lynn Dolby
Collections Manager & Registrar, Penn Art Collection

Articheck servers will undergo essential updates between 05:00 and 10:00 GMT on Sunday 17 November. During this time, our iOS and web apps will be temporarily unavailable. We apologise for any inconvenience.