In cooperation with security companies and specialists, art
warehouses can be converted to buildings with Fort Knox-like
resources. Most warehouses are monitored by numerous cameras
and motion detectors. Individual access-codes and ID-cards ensure
employees are only allowed access to authorised zones. Without
the relevant codes staff can be trapped, at the mercy of the
security officer!
Special care has to be taken of visitors or other external staff.
Each visitor must show their ID on arrival. Visitor cards or
badges are useful in distinguishing employees from non-employees
although visitors must always be accompanied in warehouses and
offices, they must never be allowed to roam free.
EXPENSIVE
High-security zones should be accessed only by a limited number
of employees and then their access should be restricted to a
daily maximum. It is possible to have a key/locking system that
allows full transparency, recording all movements and storing
that information for future reference. Of course, this is expensive
and although art warehouses can take a commercial view and spend
accordingly, this is not always the case with smaller Museums.
A Registrar from a small UK Museum, who wished to remain anonymous,
said they had real problems as a new security system could equal
one Department’s annual acquisition budget. It very much
depended on which Department Head had the loudest voice as to
how the budget was spent!
CHECK
REFERENCES
Serious consideration must also be given to the recruitment
of new staff. It is imperative that all references are checked
for accuracy and honesty. Any gaps in an applicant’s curriculum
vitae should be satisfactorily explained – was the person
on holiday or in custody?! It is also sensible to ensure that
no trainee staff member is allowed access to restricted areas
without the supervision of a suitably authorised colleague.
It may seem that we are increasingly under surveillance, which
can have a negative effect on employees, but in this instance
it is a necessary evil and essential for the care and safety
of our client’s artworks.
