Museum & Art Gallery Removals
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Museum Relocation, Handled with Precision
Since our beginning in 1958, we’ve built decades of history in specialist business removal services. Moving fragile, and often priceless collections takes specialist expertise and precision, which is why museums and galleries across the UK and internationally come to us for museum relocation. At Abels, our museum and art gallery removals service is designed to take the weight off your shoulders, whatever the length or complexity of the move. Through extensive training, our staff and museum movers are on hand to give you the same care and understanding of collections that your own curatorial team applies, from initial planning through to the final object going back on display.
Our Accreditations
Museum Removals
Museum relocations take place across the country for a number of reasons: a lease ending, a new building, a redevelopment, or simply outgrowing the current site. Some are more complex than others, but what remains constant is the need for care and the minimisation of downtime to the public. With considerable experience in specialist removals, we continue to be a trusted removals company for museums of every size.
During any museum relocation, several aspects require detailed planning and management from beginning to end: site access, packing schedules, transport, and installation at the new site all need to run to plan. To help cover all areas of your move, we offer a complete and bespoke museum relocation service that culminates in a smooth and efficient process, however many sites or departments are involved.
Our Museum Relocation services include:
Museum Move Management
No matter how many addresses or departments are involved in your museum relocation, we provide full move management, with a single point of contact who understands your specific requirements from the first site visit to the final handover.
Warehouse and Facility Relocation
We have considerable experience relocating specialist facilities, from off-site stores and warehouses to entire gallery buildings, including managing access for oversized objects and equipment that a standard building entrance can’t accommodate.
Project Management
Time-consuming tasks that would otherwise fill your team’s day, from packing schedules to contractor coordination, are covered under our project management service, so your own staff can focus on the collection rather than the logistics.
Disaster Recovery
We’re also equipped to support museums and galleries following a fire, flood, or other unexpected event, moving affected collections to safe, secure storage at short notice while recovery work takes place.
Moving Museums
Museum collections require specialist handling due to their age, fragility, and environmental sensitivity. At Abels, we use advanced materials and specialist training to protect even the most delicate pieces from light, temperature fluctuation, and movement during transit, drawing on the same environmental principles set out in PAS 198, the British Standards Institution’s specification for managing environmental conditions for cultural collections.
Fine Art Removals
From classical sculptures to contemporary installations, we manage the safe relocation of fine art across the UK and internationally, including long-distance and cross-border moves through our international removals service. Each object is handled with museum-standard care by trained professionals using purpose-built packaging and transport.
Our Gallery Relocation services include:
Custom Fine Art Casing
High-value or sentimental artworks we move will have a purpose-built wooden case made for them, offering added protection and reducing movement during transit.
Detailed Risk Assessments & Method Statements
Throughout the process, our trained staff carry out risk assessments and method statements to ensure every task is completed safely and to schedule, with full attention paid to health and safety on site. We keep track of your inventory through our own auditing services throughout.
Expert Packaging for Transit
Our team uses proven packing techniques and premium-grade materials, including archival tissue and museum-grade foam, to protect fragile items during handling and transport.
Secure Specialist Storage
We offer high-security, climate-controlled storage for art and antiques tailored to museums and galleries, whether you need somewhere for objects to sit during a redevelopment or a short-term home between exhibitions. All facilities are monitored 24/7, with inventory tracking and professional oversight for complete peace of mind.
State-of-the-Art Vehicles
Our purpose-built vehicles feature soft air-ride suspension, double-skin insulation, and temperature regulation, ensuring the smoothest possible journey for the objects inside.
Moving Fine Art
Keeping fragile and valuable items safe en route to their destination is our priority. Every member of our removals team is trained to handle all aspects of a fragile move, including moving items between departments, into temporary exhibitions, or across the country for a full relocation.
Alongside our expert staff, Abels’ fleet of removals vehicles is equipped to protect fine art during transit. Soft air-ride suspension minimises movement inside our vehicles, and a double inner skin cushions against warping caused by moisture or temperature changes in the air.
Our Museum Relocation Process
Every museum relocation starts with understanding the building, the collection, and the people who work with it every day. Our process typically includes:
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Site survey and planning. We visit both the current and new site to assess access, loading arrangements, and any specific requirements around lifts, doorways, or listed building restrictions.
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Condition reporting and packing. Before anything is moved, objects are condition-checked and packed using materials matched to their fragility, from archival tissue to purpose-built crates.
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Scheduling and move management. We create a schedule that fits around your opening hours, exhibition calendar, or building handover date, minimising disruption to staff and visitors.
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Transport and installation. Objects travel in our climate-controlled vehicles and are installed at the new site by the same trained team that packed them, keeping the chain of custody unbroken.
Types of Museum Relocation We Manage
Not every museum relocation looks the same, and the type of move shapes the plan we build around it:
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On-site moves. Moving items between rooms, floors, or wings within the same building, often to support a new layout or development.
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Local moves. Relocating a collection to a new site within the same city or region.
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Long-distance and international moves. Moving a collection across the country or abroad, drawing on our international removals service for cross-border logistics and customs.
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Temporary relocation. Housing part or all of a collection off-site during a redevelopment, or moving pieces out for a loan or touring exhibition, with a plan to bring them home again.
Whatever the reason for the move, be it new premises, changing visitor numbers, or a building no longer fitted to the collection’s needs, the same challenges of care, timing, and cost apply. Museums have been part of the UK’s cultural landscape for centuries, and many of the paintings, objects, and archives we handle carry as much historical weight as the buildings that house them, which is why we treat every relocation with the same attention regardless of its size.
Why Choose Abels?
At Abels, we’re proud members of the Museums Association and hold a number of industry certifications and accreditations, including ISO9001:2008, FIDI FAIM Plus, and Investors in People. We’re also members of three further industry bodies: The British Association of Removers, BAR Overseas Group, and IAM.
Many of the museums and galleries we work with hold Accreditation under the UK’s Museum Accreditation Scheme, the Arts Council England-led standard that also involves the Welsh Government, Museums Galleries Scotland, and the Northern Ireland Museums Council, which sets expectations for how a collection is managed and cared for. A relocation carried out to the wrong standard can put that status at risk, so understanding what an accredited collection needs from a move is as much a part of our expertise as the physical logistics.
Every member of our removals team is trained to the highest standard, with years of experience in the sector. Our team stays with you throughout every step of the removal process, providing a smooth and professional experience from the first enquiry to the final handover.
FAQs
What is the best way to transport large artwork or museum exhibits?
How much does it cost to move a museum or gallery collection?
Do moving companies dismantle and reinstall display cases and fittings?
What happens to a museum's collection during an emergency move?
Let Abels Coordinate & Plan Your Next Move
From porterage services to move exhibits between spaces, to full move management and scheduling, Abels has the experience to ensure your collections are moved and stored with care, whatever the size or complexity of the site.