The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has been awarded a $750,000 grant to launch the Carbon Reduction and Art in Transit (CRAIT) initiative. The goal of this three-year project is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from art packing systems by 50% by 2030. Led by project manager Julia Latane and head scientist Laura Maccarelli, the project aims to find more environmentally friendly and sustainable materials for shipping artwork.
By collaborating with experts in various fields, including packaging professor Jay Singh, LACMA hopes to revolutionize the way art is transported globally. The museum shipped almost 5,000 pieces of artwork for exhibitions in the last year, leading to a significant amount of packaging waste. The project team also seeks to educate and inspire other museums and galleries to adopt more sustainable packaging solutions.
Searching for materials that are both environmentally friendly and protective of the artwork is a priority for Latane and Maccarelli. The project aims to address the unique challenges of packing and transporting artwork, which requires specialized packaging that is gentle yet strong. The team is exploring ways to reduce waste and promote reuse of materials, while ensuring that the packaging does not harm the artwork.
Ultimately, the CRAIT initiative seeks to make a significant impact on the art shipment industry by developing innovative and sustainable solutions for transporting artwork. Through research, testing, and collaboration, LACMA aims to set a new standard for environmentally friendly art transportation practices.
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