Since its inception in 1991, the Museums + Heritage Show has emerged as the UK’s largest annual gathering of cultural-sector professionals. What began as a modest forum for dialogue and learning has grown into a two-day extravaganza featuring over 60 sessions, 90 expert speakers, and a bustling expo floor showcasing cutting-edge innovations and best practices.
The Show has consistently focused on themes of inclusivity, accessibility, and collaboration. For instance, in 2025 delegates could engage with sessions spotlighting disability access (led by Historic England), youth engagement initiatives like the Kids in Museums Youth Panel, and groundbreaking conversations about archival digitization and community-driven partnerships.
Its event program further underscores its role as a convener: The “Sector Support Zone” and “Networking Lounge” offer crucial spaces for connecting practitioners and fostering cross-organizational collaboration.
Over three decades, the Show’s ethos has remained constant: seeing value in “looking outwards”—transforming museums from insular institutions into dynamic contributors to broader communities. In doing so, it has consistently provided a platform to present both tangible solutions and inspiring case studies—crucial, given museums’ increasingly complex logistical, educational, and environmental demands.
Why Storage & Handling Matter: Beyond Exhibited Objects
For museums, moving and storing artifacts isn’t merely operational—it’s integral to collection integrity, conservation, and public trust. Each relocation, loan, or exhibition tour risks damage from environmental exposure, shock, mishandling, or even simple friction. Similarly, long-term storage raises concerns around humidity, acidity, mold, and pests.
In recent years, sustainability has also become a priority, as curators, registrars, and conservators seek ways to reduce waste, avoid single-use packaging, and embrace eco-conscious practices that won’t compromise collection health.
Enter ArtPakk: Smart, Reusable Packaging for the Cultural Sector
Origins Rooted in Experience
ArtPakk was created by Soo Turner—whose circa 25-year background in gallery and art logistics led her to design a reusable bag tailored to the needs of art professionals. Made from durable, non-toxic, recyclable materials, each bag features acid-free polypropylene lining, a resilient polyethylene core, and Velcro closures—eliminating the need for tape or bubble wrap.
Core Advantages for Museums
Reusable & Efficient: ArtPakk bags can be used across multiple shipments and storage cycles—saving both time and money, especially during peak loan periods.
Acid-Free Protection: With pH-neutral inner surfaces, the bags prevent acidity buildup that can damage paper, canvas, and delicate surfaces.
Shock Absorption: The 6 mm composite construction shields items from physical impact while remaining lightweight.
Eco-Conscious Design: Free from harmful chemicals, the bags are recyclable and help museums reduce reliance on disposable bubble wrap.
Operable Across Departments: From preparation to installation, collections teams can insert framed art, artworks, or objects directly into the bag—no need for crates or tape.
A Natural Synergy: ArtPakk at the Museums + Heritage Show
ArtPakk’s ethos aligns with the Show’s core themes:
1. Innovation & Efficiency
Fast-paced museum logistics—moving items between stores, galleries, and exhibition venues—require packaging that keeps artifacts safe and fits within tighter timeframes. ArtPakk enables prepacking and rapid deployment, leaving staff free to focus on curatorial detail.
2. Sustainability
The Show often includes dialogue on reducing museum carbon footprints. ArtPakk replaces single-use materials with long-lasting alternatives, offering measurable reductions in packaging waste and associated disposal costs.
3. Professional Presentation
Museums take pride in consistent, white-glove-standard packaging. ArtPakk presents a polished, professional solution—demonstrating respect for both the artifact and the lending institution.
4. Collaboration & Best Practice
The Show’s networking ethos fosters partnerships among museums, logistics providers, conservation studios, and organizations like the Heritage Alliance and Museums Association ([museumsandheritage.com][3]). ArtPakk, with its trade-only orientation, fits seamlessly into this professional context, facilitating procurement by trusted institutional partners.
How Museums Can Maximize Impact with ArtPakk
1. Standardize Your Kit
By stocking a range of ArtPakk sizes—via single bags or multipacks—museums equip frontline staff to pack any painting, framed object, or flat artwork quickly and uniformly.
2. Train Across Roles
Encourage registrars, preparators, art handlers, and even external couriers to use ArtPakk packaging consistently, promoting shared practices across departments.
3. Leverage Analytics
Track reuse cycles, incidents avoided, and waste reduction over time. These insights support sustainability reporting and recycling credentials.
4. Highlight in Outreach
Hospitals, universities, and partner venues value museums that invest in reuse and conservation. ArtPakk’s green credentials elevate institutional reputation.
5. Complement Crates & Padding
While ArtPakk excels for flat or framed works during transport/storage, artifacts requiring crating (ceramics, sculptures) may still need crates—but can benefit from internal padding using ArtPakk pouches.
Use Case: Seasonal Rehanging & Touring Exhibitions
Consider a museum rehanging its modern-art galleries and dispatching works to two touring exhibitions. Instead of wrapping each piece in bubble wrap and taping, staff slide artworks directly into ArtPakk bags. Each bag protects during pallet loading, transport, and shelf storage. At the venue, unpacking is clean, fast, and residue-free. Once exhibited, the same bags return with the artwork or replenish storage—no waste, no fuss, no tape residue.
During lull periods, these bags double as storage covers in the collections depot—dust-proof and ready for the next relocation.

The Future: Scaling Green Logistics in Heritage
The Museums + Heritage Show, with its expansive audience of cultural stakeholders, is the perfect forum for ArtPakk to show how greener logistics can be mainstreamed. As discussions increasingly emphasize equitable partnerships, accessibility, and environmental responsibility, packaging solutions that do more than protect—solutions that align with profound institutional values—will stand out.
ArtPakk’s partnership with Artcadis (US-based distributor) means museums on both sides of the Atlantic can access these solutions and remove dependency on bubble-wrap—an impactful narrative for those preparing sustainability reports or grant bids.
From humble beginnings in 1991, the Museums + Heritage Show has evolved into a global showcase for museum innovation, inclusivity, and operational excellence. In this landscape, ArtPakk stands as a natural ally—offering reusable, protective, and elegant packaging that safeguards collections, supports sustainability goals, and enhances internal efficiencies.

As cultural institutions strive to deliver exhibitions that are ethical, green, and scalable, integrating ArtPakk into collection logistics sends a powerful message: that every aspect of museum practice—from exhibition design to pack-and-move—can embody the values museums champion.
Find out more about our sustainable art packaging solutions and check out the museum and heritage show for further details.