News and Commentary for the Art Logistics Industry

In this issue:

Print Version in English

• Free ports: How do they work?
  Free ports are havens for high net worth individuals and their assets. As long as goods are located within free ports, VAT and customs duties are suspended, even if sold in free ports! There are 40 such trade zones throughout the European Union. Switzerland has another 10 with the largest in Geneva. Read more
  

• Worldwide sales of art exceeded 60 billion US Dollars in 2012
  Worldwide sales of art exceeded 60 billion dollars in 2012. This has fueled more business for the art logistics industry. The 2012 figures were nearly double those of 2011, when sales struggled to reach 39 billion during the height of the recession. The record sales year was 65.8 billion in 2007. In the past year the United States and Europe accounted for most of the art sales, while Asian sales declined to 970 million dollars – a strong indicator of continuing economic malaise in that region. Read more

• How does ICEFAT choose its members?
  ICEFAT is an organization representing 72 art services companies from 34 countries. Every year ICEFAT receives many new applications for membership. ICEFAT has set very high standards for its members and new applicants are carefully screened to make certain they will enhance our mission of upholding the best practices in our industry. To ensure we will accept the best companies, we have developed a fair and thorough system for vetting the qualifications of each applying company. Unlike a Papal conclave with its secret ballots, cloistered cardinals and colored smoke, it is an efficient and transparent system. Read more
  
  
• Tech Notes
  Who pays much attention to the backs of paintings? Visit any museum or gallery and admire the art hanging on walls, but do you give any thought to what is holding it in place? Chances are there will be picture hanging wire on the back attached to screw eyes or strap hangers and a picture hook or two. Read more
  
  
• ARCS Report
  In June of 2012, ARCS – the Association of Registrars and Collections Specialists was
  founded. As a new professional organization, our mission is to represent and promote
  Registrars and Collections Specialists, nationally and internationally. We could not have gotten the organization off to a good start without the encouragement and support from our 29 Founding Benefactors. Read more
  

• Chairman's Report
  This issue of the ICEFAT news is dedicated to looking "BEHIND THE SCENES".
  Read more
  
  

ICEFAT Green Pages
Since 2008, the ICEFAT Green Committee has received overwhelming support from the membership of ICEFAT as well as the entire museum community. This support has given the committee the energy to pursue research in many areas. The linked pages show some of the areas that we are working on currently. The committee meets via teleconference once a month and always welcomes new information. If you would like to know more about the committee or the research in progress please email at Green@Icefat.org.

Member's Area

37th Annual ICEFAT Convention
Langkawi, Malaysia
September 26 - 29, 2013

Member's Convention Information Page

Convention Registration Form

Convention Program

Pre-convention Event Program

ICEFAQs —Direct Question and Answer Forum
Our question and answer forum, known as ICEFAQs is aimed at both our clients and our members. ICEFAQs is serviced by a group of on-call ICEFAT members with extensive industry experience. Questions are generally answered within 2 working days of posting. 

Click here to submit a question