Museum Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a museum business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for museums and historic sites. Priorities reflect typical exposure; confirm against collection value and loans.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Art / Collections (incl. | Loans) Covers owned and borrowed objects, including transit — confirm nail-to-nail terms. | Core | |
| Commercial Property | Covers the buildings, fixtures, and exhibit construction. | Core | |
| General Liability | Covers visitor injuries. | Core | |
| Directors & Officers | Covers board and management decisions — important for nonprofit museums. | Prevalent | |
| Crime | Covers employee theft of objects or funds. | Prevalent | |
| Umbrella / Excess Liability | Adds limits above general liability. | Prevalent | |
| Abuse & Molestation / Liquor | Needed for children's programs and events serving alcohol. | Situational | |
| Workers' Compensation | Covers staff and guards. | Core |
The coverage gap most often missed
The most commonly missed gap for this class is borrowed objects. Loan agreements often require the borrowing museum to insure objects from the moment they leave the lender's wall until they return — while the Louvre's 2025 loss showed how fast a security gap becomes a total loss. Museums should confirm nail-to-nail coverage for every loan and test camera and alarm coverage regularly.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your museum coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Museum Insurance · Museum Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a museum business need?
The core coverages for a museum business are Fine Art / Collections (incl., Commercial Property, General Liability, Workers' Compensation. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my museum coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.