The Art of Collaboration

Dallas museum moves TSA cargo-screening in-house

People who are new to the Dallas- Fort Worth area may be surprised to hear about its burgeoning art scene. It’s true: Dallas is a lot more cultured than one might expect.

And the Dallas Museum of Art has been a cornerstone of the city’s rebirth since it opened in the early 1900s.

Vital to Dallas’ booming Arts District, the DMA includes more than 23,000 pieces of art from around the world and hosts countless events each year. The museum’s monthly Late Night program alone draws up to 5,000 visitors. And recently, it hosted nearly 800,000 people in an eight-month period for its exhibition of King Tut artifacts. With this kind of attendance, securing the art -- and the visitors and staff themselves -- is an impressive feat.

Lance K. Childers, director of security at the DMA, said the museum just took a huge step toward better safeguarding its art by achieving Transportation Security Administration air cargo certification. With this coup, approved DMA employees will be able to scan international art shipments themselves to comply with TSA’s new cargo screening requirements.

Special Attention
In 2007, TSA mandated that 100 percent of air cargo transported in passenger planes must be screened by airlines as part of the 9/11 Bill. For museums, meeting the August deadline creates unprecedented complications.

“Some of those canvases and materials may be 100 or more years old,” Childers said. “We’ve got to preserve it. [Museum employees] package it in special ways. So we’re apprehensive [when] it goes to the airport and they’re going to ship it. I’m sure they use every precaution they could, but the art is really special and needs special attention.”

Often, temporary exhibitions present even more complicated security challenges for the museum. The sensitive nature of the art means much of it can’t be touched or even exposed to too much light. In fact, certain paintings must be covered up for at least 12 hours a day.

But as of April, the DMA is TSA certified to screen its own international art shipments. Becoming a certified cargo screening facility -- a process that took the DMA about 18 months -- enables specially trained staff to inspect and seal each piece of art before it heads to the airport, which helps ensure that the cargo isn’t tampered with.

TSA’s Certified Cargo Screening Program was developed as a solution to help industries reach the new screening mandate. TSA says most CCSP shipper participants have been able to quickly incorporate physical screening into their shipping process, at only a small cost to their operation.

By enabling museums and other facilities to screen their own packages, TSA helps ease the burden of its own employees. Otherwise, it would be a struggle for U.S. airports to meet the 100-percent cargo-screening requirements while also ensuring passenger and staff safety, even when using advanced screening technology and K-9 teams.

Handle With Care
Brent Mitchell, the DMA’s registrar for loans and exhibitions, is one of the museum’s TSA-certified employees. He said by avoiding any third-party handling of the museum’s cargo, the art is better protected. In the meantime, dangers like improvised explosive devices -- one of the most common threats in air cargo security -- are avoided.

Mitchell, along with about a dozen other certified staff members, was required to undergo a background check and receive special training. During the screening process, a staff member inspects the inside, outside and contents of each crate in a designated screening area, which only approved employees can access. After a crate is inspected, it is sealed with tamper-evident tape that features a unique coding system.

“Our main objective is to make sure when we pack artwork at the museum that we’re responsible for -- whether it’s our objects or a lender’s objects -- that all opening and inspection of the crates is done by professional art handlers, such as our staff or contract staff,” Mitchell said.

Museums that are not certified cargo-screening facilities must rely on third-party screeners, such as certified fine-art shippers or packers. In this case, Mitchell explained, museum officials would have to pack each crate on site and send it with a courier to the third-party screener, who would then unpack and inspect it before resealing it and sending it to the airport. Clearly, this process would present a much greater threat to delicate works of art.

Take No Chances
Childers and his team also face special security and safety challenges within the permanent exhibition areas. The main objective is to preserve the art while still providing a meaningful and educational opportunity for guests.

In a museum that features priceless paintings and artifacts, however, guests themselves can be a liability. Some pieces of art are fragile enough to be damaged by people’s breath if they stand too close, and touching a painting can cause even greater harm.

Working with the museum’s curators, Childers determines the security needs of each piece. By using security cameras, lasers, motion alarms and museum attendants -- as well as physical barriers such as raised platforms and ropes -- they ensure that the artwork is as secure as possible from theft and damage.

Learn more about the Dallas Museum of Art -- and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex -- at ASIS 2010, which runs Oct. 12-15 at the Dallas Convention Center. For more information, visit http://www.asisonline.org.

About the Author

Megan Weadock is a communications specialist at Monitronics.

Featured

  • Secure Your Home During the Holidays

    The most wonderful time of the year can easily transform into a nightmare. Being vigilant, while still enjoying the holiday season, is possible. The holiday season is the perfect time to start implementing security measures to protect one’s home and ensure security while out and about. Read Now

  • Five Cybersecurity Trends Predictions for 2024

    According to Cybersixgill, threat research experts, AI’s evolution will continually improve both organizations’ cyber defense efforts and cybercriminal activities. At the same time, increasingly complex regulatory requirements, continued consolidation of cybersecurity tools, a widening attack surface, and heightened global geopolitical issues will all play a significant role in driving the direction of cybersecurity. Read Now

  • AI on the Edge

    Discussions about the merits (or misgivings) around AI (artificial intelligence) are everywhere. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find an article or product literature without mention of it in our industry. If you’re not using AI by now in some capacity, congratulations may be in order since most people are using it in some form daily even without realizing it. Read Now

  • NSA Report Focuses on How to Protect Against Evolving Phishing Attacks

    The National Security Agency (NSA) and U.S. partners have released a new report describing the latest techniques in phishing attacks and the defenses organizations can deploy against them. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

New Products

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame. 3

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation. 3

  • ComNet CNGE6FX2TX4PoE

    The ComNet cost-efficient CNGE6FX2TX4PoE is a six-port switch that offers four Gbps TX ports that support the IEEE802.3at standard and provide up to 30 watts of PoE to PDs. It also has a dedicated FX/TX combination port as well as a single FX SFP to act as an additional port or an uplink port, giving the user additional options in managing network traffic. The CNGE6FX2TX4PoE is designed for use in unconditioned environments and typically used in perimeter surveillance. 3