March 22, 2004.  Notice to the Museum-L community:
In January 2000, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery embarked on a
complete renovation of its historic facility.  During the past four years,
we have traveled several exhibitions and lent numerous objects to museums at
home and abroad.  As we fast approach the reopening of the Gallery in July
2006, there are a myriad of projects in which our staff is now fully
immersed, not least among them the process of reformulating all of our
permanent collection installations.  As a result, we will be unable to
continue our high level of outgoing loans.
We have found it necessary to institute a loan moratorium on all new
requests.  This begins immediately for works on paper and , as of November
1, 2004,  for loan requests for paintings and sculpture and other non-paper
objects.  When we reopen the loan moratorium will be lifted, and we will
begin processing requests for objects with loan periods initiating after
March 1, 2007.
The National Portrait Gallery remains committed to its mission to make its
collections available, and we will make every effort to consider the most
exceptional loan requests to major exhibitions.  However, such exceptions
will be limited.  We appreciate your patience and understanding in the
interim.
Sincerely,
Marc Pachter
Director
Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery

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