Application for Domestic Indemnification

Arts & Artifacts Indemnity Program
Overview
The U.S. Government’s Arts & Artifacts Indemnity Program was created by Congress in 1975 for
the purpose of minimizing the costs of insuring international exhibitions. In 2007, Congress
expanded eligibility under the Program to include coverage of works of art owned by U.S.
entities while on exhibition in the United States.
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) administers the Indemnity Program on behalf of
the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities (FCAH). The FCAH is composed of
statutorily appointed members, including heads of Federal Agencies with arts-related
programs. The FCAH is the governing body with the authority to approve indemnity
agreements, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. In the event of
loss or damage to an indemnified object, the FCAH must certify the validity of the claim and
request Congress to authorize payment.
The FCAH considers applications within two programs: International Indemnity and Domestic
Indemnity. Applications are first reviewed by NEA staff for eligibility and completeness.
Applications are then assessed by Indemnity Advisory Panels comprised of museum directors,
curators, conservators, and registrars. The Indemnity Advisory Panels deliberate on applications
and make recommendations to the FCAH. The FCAH typically meets three to six months after
each application deadline to consider panel recommendations, determine whether to
indemnify all or part of an exhibition, set conditions applicants may need to satisfy prior to
approval, or to decline indemnity requests. Applicants will receive conditional indemnity
notices or letters of decline following the FCAH meeting.
The NEA facilitates the indemnity process, administers official Certificates of Indemnity, and
maintains communication with indemnitees throughout the life of the indemnity period,
serving as a conduit to the Advisory Panels and FCAH as matters arise.
Links to the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act, Federal Rules and Regulations, and a sample
Certificate of Indemnity, can be found at the bottom of this page.

Distinction between International & Domestic Indemnity
U.S. nonprofit museums and organizations planning temporary exhibitions that involve bringing
works of art and/or artifacts from abroad to the United States or sending works of art and/or
artifacts from the United States abroad may be eligible for International Indemnity coverage.
International Indemnity coverage may also extend to certain U.S.-owned objects while on
exhibition in the United States, if the exhibition includes both U.S.-owned and international
objects. See for reference: International Indemnity: list of recently indemnified exhibitions

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U.S. nonprofit museums and organizations planning temporary exhibitions within the United
States may be eligible for Domestic Indemnity coverage for objects owned by U.S.-based
entities. Though exhibitions considered for the Domestic program may contain works of art
and/or artifacts from abroad, only the objects owned by U.S. entities are eligible for coverage
within the Domestic Program. See for reference: Domestic Indemnity: list of recently
indemnified exhibitions.
Each program has its own eligibility requirements, application guidelines and instructions, and
timelines. See the “Application Instructions” section below for more information and full
application instructions.

Applicant Considerations
Before submitting an application, applicants should be aware of the following:
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Applicants may submit more than one application, so long as the applications are for
different exhibitions.
Applicants may not submit separate applications for the same exhibition to both
International and Domestic Indemnity programs.
If an exhibition will be shown at two or more institutions, one institution should apply on
behalf of all participants.
Indemnity should not be requested for inaugural exhibitions in new buildings or
substantially renovated spaces.
The FCAH requires that the applicant must have previously organized at least one
exhibition with objects borrowed from one or more public and/or private collections.
The FCAH requires human presence 24-hours/7-days inside buildings where indemnified
objects are located.
The FCAH requires that each conveyance vehicle containing indemnified objects be
accompanied by a courier on board.
The FCAH generally limits coverage for a single exhibition to five venues (or fewer,
depending upon the type and condition of the objects).
The FCAH rarely approves coverage for a total indemnity period greater than two years.
Eligible objects include works of art, artifacts or objects, rare documents, books and other
printed materials, photographs, films, and electronic materials. Such objects must have
educational, cultural, historical, or scientific value.
The FCAH is generally opposed to indemnifying oil on copper paintings, objects containing
pastel, certain chalk, charcoal, lacquer, certain types of glass (including enamels), works
on parchment or vellum, marquetry, frescoes, other fragile objects, and objects to be
exhibited outdoors. Oversized objects (exceeding ten feet in any direction), and oil on
wood panel paintings will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Please refer to the full Application Instructions, linked below, which include these key
considerations as well as additional guidance and requirements specific to the International and
Domestic Indemnity Programs.
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Indemnity Limits
International Indemnity Limits: The Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act allows international
coverage for a single exhibition up to $1,800,000,000. The aggregate dollar amount covered by
international indemnity agreements in effect at any one time cannot exceed $15 billion.
Domestic Indemnity Limits: The Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act allows domestic coverage for
a single exhibition up to $1,000,000,000. The aggregate dollar amount covered by domestic
indemnity agreements in effect at any one time cannot exceed $7.5 billion.
Conveyance Limits: The FCAH permits a maximum of $150,000,000 of indemnified value to be
transported in a single conveyance (e.g. plane, truck), at any given time.
Object Limits: The FCAH will limit indemnity coverage to no more than $100 million per object.
Indemnitee Deductible: For both programs, The Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act requires the
indemnitee be responsible for a deductible per exhibition of the first:
• $15,000 for up to $2 million in indemnified value
• $25,000 for more than $2 million but less than $10 million in indemnified value
• $50,000 for not less than $10 million but less than $125 million in indemnified value
• $100,000 for not less than $125 million but less than $200 million in indemnified value
• $200,000 for not less than $200 million but less than $300 million in indemnified value
• $300,000 for not less than $300 million but less than $400 million in indemnified value
• $400,000 for not less than $400 million but less than $500 million in indemnified value
• $500,000 for $500 million or more in indemnified value

Important Dates
There are two application deadlines for International Indemnity and two application deadlines
for Domestic Indemnity each federal fiscal year. An application should not be submitted more
than one year and three months in advance of the start date of the indemnity period. Contact
[email protected] to discuss which deadline may be most appropriate for your program.
International Indemnity Calendar
Application Calendar

September Deadline
(International)

March Deadline
(International)

Guidelines Posted

Late July

Late July

Part 1: Grants.gov
Submission Deadline

September X, 202X
11:59 pm ET

March X, 202X
11:59 pm ET

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Part 2: NEA Applicant Portal
Opens

September X, 202X
9:00 am ET

March X, 202X
9:00 am ET

Part 2: NEA Applicant Portal
Closes

September X, 202X
11:59 pm ET

March X, 202X
11:59 pm ET

Application Calendar

December Deadline
(Domestic)

June Deadline
(Domestic)

Guidelines Posted

Late July

Late July

Part 1: Grants.gov
Submission Deadline

December X, 202X
11:59 pm ET

June X, 202X
11:59 pm ET

Part 2: NEA Applicant Portal
Opens

December X, 202X
9:00 am ET

June X, 202X
9:00 am ET

Part 2: NEA Applicant Portal
Closes

December X, 202X
11:59 pm ET

June X, 202X
11:59 pm ET

Domestic Indemnity Calendar

The FCAH typically meets to review the Indemnity Advisory Panel's recommendations three to
six months after the application deadline. Indemnity notices may be delayed if the FCAH
meeting is postponed or the FCAH requests additional information. Final Certifications
of Indemnity cannot be issued until the conditions required by the FCAH are met by the
applicant. Therefore, if the exhibition is recommended for indemnity, the applicant's requested
start dates for the period of indemnification are not guaranteed.
To assist the Advisory Panel and the FCAH with long range planning of indemnity allocations,
future applicants are encouraged, but not required, to submit preliminary statements about
exhibitions as much as four years in advance of the indemnity period. Updated material may be
submitted subsequently, as applicable. Send all material directly to [email protected].

Application Process & Instructions
Submitting an application is a multi-step process. Detailed instructions on how to complete and
submit both parts of the application package can be found in the Application Instructions
documents linked below.

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International Indemnity Instructions
Domestic Indemnity Instructions
Registration Guidance: Before you can submit an application, you must register with Login.gov,
the System for Award Management (SAM) at SAM.gov, and Grants.gov or renew/verify these
registrations. Registration can take several weeks.
Part 1. Grants.Gov Application Package: Click on the link for the program and deadline you are
applying to below. Be sure to use the correct application package link – we cannot transfer
applications between deadlines. Full instructions are available via the Application Instructions
documents above.
September X, 202X Deadline INTERNATIONAL: Funding Opportunity Number 2027FCAH01
December X, 202X Deadline DOMESTIC: Funding Opportunity Number 2027FCAHDOM01
March X, 202X Deadline INTERNATIONAL: Funding Opportunity Number 2027FCAH02
June X, 202X Deadline DOMESTIC: Funding Opportunity Number 2027FCAHDOM02
Part 2. NEA Applicant Portal: Upload your indemnity narrative and other required items to the
NEA’s applicant portal. Login instructions are available via the Application Instructions
documents above.

Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act, Federal Rules and Regulations, and
Certificate of Indemnity, and Crediting Requirement
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Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act

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Regulations: Indemnities Under the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act

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Certificate of Indemnity Sample

Crediting requirement: In all published material and announcements concerning an
indemnified exhibition, the following acknowledgment must appear: "This exhibition is
supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities." (Do not
include any logo.)

Contacts
NEA Indemnity Program Staff: For questions about the Indemnity Program, please contact:
[email protected]

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Access for individuals with disabilities:
Contact [email protected] to request an accommodation or an alternate format of the
guidelines at least 2 weeks prior to the application deadline.
Login.gov, SAM, and Grants.gov Help
The NEA does not have access to your Login.gov, SAM, or Grants.gov accounts. If you have any
questions about or need assistance with these sites, including questions regarding electronic
accessibility, contact them directly:
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Login.gov Help: Call 1-844-875-6446, consult the information posted in their Help Center,
or use their online form to submit a question.
SAM Federal Service Desk: See SAM Help.
Grants.gov Contact Center: Call 1-800-518-4726, email [email protected], or consult
the information posted on the Grants.gov website at Support or Help. The Grants.gov
Contact Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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