$ provenance-docs — user guide

operations

Loans, consignments, invoices, and logistics.

Operations

The operations module provides gallery-grade logistics tools: loans, consignments, invoices, acquisitions, and more.

Access

Go to Operations (/operations) from the Toolbox. Requires an active subscription.

Modules

ModuleDescription
LoansTrack artworks on loan — lender, borrower, dates, insurance
ConsignmentsManage consignment agreements and terms
InvoicesGenerate and download PDF invoices
AcquisitionsRecord artwork purchases and provenance transfers
Condition reportsDocument artwork condition at intake and return
Insurance valuationsStore appraisal and insurance values
VendorsManage framers, shippers, and service providers
Exhibition plansPlan logistics for upcoming shows
Artwork locationsTrack where each piece is physically located

Creating records

Each module has a create flow accessible from the operations dashboard. Link records to specific artworks from your collection for full traceability.

PDF exports

Loans, consignments, and invoices can be exported as PDFs:

  • /api/operations/invoices/[id]/pdf
  • /api/operations/loans/[id]/pdf
  • /api/operations/consignments/[id]/pdf

These endpoints require authentication and an active subscription.

Alerts

Provenance sends automated alerts for expiring loans and consignments via the cron job at /api/cron/operations-alerts. Ensure your account email is up to date in settings.

Best practices

  • Link every operations record to an artwork for audit trails.
  • Set reminder dates on loans before they expire.
  • Use condition reports at both loan intake and return.