Immunity from seizure
The Tribunals, Courts and Enforcements Act 2007 provides immunity from seizure for cultural objects. These objects must be loaned from overseas to temporary public exhibitions in approved museums or galleries in the UK.
About the scheme
About the scheme
The conditions which must be met are:
- the object is usually kept outside the UK
- the object is not owned by a person who is resident in the UK
- the import of the object does not contravene any law
- the object is brought into the UK for the purpose of a temporary public exhibition at an approved museum or gallery
- the museum or gallery has published information about the object where required to do so by regulations
The authority responsible for approving a museum or gallery is:
- England – The Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport
- Wales – Welsh Ministers
- Scotland – Scottish Ministers
- Northern Ireland – The Department for Culture, Art and Leisure
These authorities must take account of the institution’s procedures for establishing the provenance and ownership of objects. They will also consider compliance with guidance on procedures published by the Secretary of State.
Approved museums and galleries
Approved museums and galleries
Ashmolean Museum
Barber Institute of Fine Arts
Barbican
British Library
British Museum
Compton Verney
The Design Museum
Dulwich Picture Gallery
Fitzwilliam Museum
GRAD (Gallery for Russian Arts and Design)
Henry Moore Foundation
Historic Royal Palaces
Ikon Gallery
Leighton House
Manchester Art Gallery
Manchester Museum
National Gallery
National Galleries Scotland
National Maritime Museum
National Museums Liverpool
National Museums Scotland
National Portrait Gallery
Natural History Museum
Norfolk Museums Service
Pallant House
Royal Academy
Royal Armouries
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
Science Museum
Strawberry Hill
Southbank Centre
Tate
Turner Contemporary
The Courtauld Gallery
The Hunterian (University of Glasgow)
The Photographers’ Gallery
Victoria and Albert Museum
Waddesdon Manor
The Wallace Collection
Whitechapel Gallery
Wolverhampton Art Gallery