MoMu Collection Abroad: Understanding the Process of Loans

What exactly is a museum loan? And why are loans essential when it comes to putting new exhibitions together? We sat down with Wim Mertens, MoMu’s Curator of Collections, to understand what loans entail, which pieces or designers are currently popular, and why timing is so important when it comes to lending out - or borrowing - one of a kind garments.

WIM MERTENS: "When we prepare exhibitions, we speak of incoming and outgoing loans, which means that our museum borrows from other museums in order to get the pieces we are missing. Of course, MoMu lends garments to other museums as well, even though we cannot say yes to every request."

WM: "Museums ask MoMu in the first place for the loan of out contemporary collection with Belgian designers and alumni of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, a spearhead in our collection. Every now and then, pieces from the historical collection are also requested. For example, we recently lended three 18th century jackets to Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai for an exhibition curated by Hamish Bowles."

WM: "Absolutely. Loans are a way for us to promote MoMu and its collection. We are a public museum, and our collection isn’t private. It’s therefore normal that the collection can be enjoyed by the public, not only in the museum itself, but worldwide as well. For instance, we’re lending three 18^th century jackets to Mumbai for an exhibition Hamish Bowles is curating. We did ask which gallery or museum the pieces will be showcased in, and have concerns about the climate as well. We won’t travel to Mumbai ourselves, but will do a follow-up by video call when the pieces are installed."

WM: "We attach great importance to the safe display of the pieces, in terms of the climate in the exhibition space, the method of exhibition, their surveillance and transportation. We also prefer to avoid re-exhibiting a piece that has just been exhibited. A rest period is necessary. Preferably, we set up our pieces ourselves on site. Sometimes, we cannot travel to the location ourselves or the timing is not convenient for us. In that case, we do follow-up via video-call."

Can't get enough of the MoMu Collection, but also love to go out and explore? Follow our museum loans and visit the following exhibitions:

• With '1997 Fashion Big Bang,' Palais Galliera in Paris takes you back to the fashion year 1997 until 16 July 2023. In addition to a Raf Simons lookbook, MoMu also loans the costume worn by Bono during U2's PopMart Tour, designed by Walter Van Beirendonck.
• Immerse yourself in the marvelous world of Scottish tartan at V&A Dundee in Scotland with 'Tartan' until 14 January 2024. MoMu loans four checked silhouettes with a Belgian touch.
• 'India in Fashion' at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai closed on 4 June 2023. Vogue editor Hamish Bowles curated the exhibition and borrowed two 18th-century jackets with chintz from MoMu.
• Discover the history of headwear at Museum Krona in the Netherlands until 22 October 2023, with 'Krona als hoofdzaak.' MoMu loans five hats from British milliner Stephen Jones.