Part 6 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcements Act 2007 provides immunity from seizure for cultural objects which are loaned from overseas to temporary public exhibitions in approved museums or galleries in the UK where conditions are met when the object enters the UK.

The conditions 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:

The Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport in relation to institutions in England
Welsh Ministers in relation to institutions in Wales
Scottish Ministers in relation to institutions in Scotland
The Department for Culture, Art and Leisure in relation to institutions in Northern Ireland

When deciding whether to approve a museum or gallery the authority must take account of the institution’s procedures for establishing the provenance and ownership of objects and compliance with guidance on procedures published by the Secretary of State.

See more here.

For further information please contact:
Director
Whitechapel Gallery
77-82 Whitechapel High Street
London E1 7QX

Works of art intended to form part of a forthcoming exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery that may be covered by immunity from seizure are here.