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Collection Loans
We lend material to community, regional, state, national and international institutions and organisations for the purposes of display, interpretation and research. See our FAQs below for details of how to borrow from Queensland Museum’s vast collections.
Update to QM Collections & Research Centre (CRC), Hendra
Between 2022 and 2025, significant work has been undertaken to improve collection storage infrastructure and to ensure the highest standards of care and preservation for our geological specimens and cultural heritage collections. Collection care remains a priority for Queensland Museum, along with ensuring access for First Nations communities, critical scientific study and public display.
Access is available to the collections, which can be viewed and used for research, loans, and consultation by arrangement. Access to some collections remains limited due to ongoing collection work. Large or bulk requests for materials will be considered on a case-by-case basis to ensure the safe handling and preservation of collection items.
Loans for research or exhibition continue to be managed through the relevant collection managers, and all access requires prior arrangement.
Our collections are an essential resource for understanding biodiversity, conservation, geosciences, and cultural and societal change. Maintaining access while safeguarding these items for future generations is a vital balance, and we greatly appreciate your ongoing support and understanding.
FAQs
Whether you want to borrow collection items for an exhibition or for research purposes follows these steps:
- Contact relevant curator to discuss possible loan material.
- Make a formal loan request to Chief Executive Officer.
- QM Collection staff will send either a Facility Report (international or large national institutions, large city or regional councils) or Venue Report (small regional institutions, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community groups and keeping places) for completion and return.
- The information from your discussions with the relevant curator and your responses to the Facilities or venue reports will be taken into consideration in assessing your loan request.
- If agreement is reached to lend the requested material, QM Collection staff will send an Outward Loan Agreement, which must be signed and returned.
- Objects will be despatched with an Outgoing Receipt which must be signed and returned.
- Exhibition Loans are made for a maximum of 12 months and Research Loans for a maximum of 3 years, however, extensions may be negotiated.
- The museum requires 12 months' notice to process a formal loan request.
- 8 weeks' notice is required for a loan extension request.
Institutions that have not borrowed material from Queensland Museum in the previous 12 months are required to provide a Facilities Report or Venue Report that includes details of:
- environmental conditions
- evidence of insurance
- venue security
- display plan
- staffing.
The Borrower is responsible for all costs associated with the loan, which may include:
- specialised conservation treatments
- packaging materials
- administrative loan fee
- transport costs
- courier costs to and from venue (e.g. flights, accommodation, expenses)
- ‘door to door’ insurance for entire period of loan.
Loans are subject to approval based on curatorial, conservation and collection management advice.
Loan requests may be declined if:
- materials are required elsewhere
- objects are too fragile or valuable
- cultural protocol precludes loan or display
- materials are undergoing long-term conservation
- the request cannot be accommodated in the available timeframe
- the applicant fails (or has previously failed) to meet all conditions and requirements of the loan agreement.
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