Along with museums, libraries, archives, monuments and historic buildings, all kinds of individual artworks may be the target of an act of violence against items of value. It is therefore important to also consider vandalism as a separate aspect when thinking about security, fire safety, protection against intrusion, etc.

There are a number of different triggers for vandalism, notably political, religious, sexual or personal motives stemming from hate, glorification, fetishism etc. The content and nature of an exhibition must therefore be assessed to determine the extent to which individual themes or specific exhibits might provide a trigger for acts of vandalism.

Especially fragile, valuable and irreplaceable exhibits should be protected by showing them in showcases or behind barriers/protective glass, even if they are not thought to be specifically at risk from acts of vandalism for political, religious or other reasons. Precautions against vandalism generally also serve as anti-theft measures and vice versa.

It is always essential to consider and decide what technical anti-vandalism measures are expedient. The following measures can be taken individually or combined with one another:
- Installing barriers (e.g. ropes or rails) to prevent visitors coming into direct contact with objects to be protected
- Electronic monitoring of barriers to signal when they are touched or breached
- Direct electronic monitoring of exhibits to detect anyone touching them or approaching them too closely
- Presentation in showcases, behind glass or polycarbonate sheets (possibly glass with attack-resistant film, alarmed, see also Theft section)
- Video surveillance of the room or object in question, including visitors in the immediate vicinity
- Video surveillance in the entrance foyer and other points around visitor routes to spot anyone behaving suspiciously.

As well as technical measures, it is necessary for an institution to have rules and organizational measures in place to prevent vandalism. These include in particular:
- Drawing up and displaying visitor/user regulations which specify what actions and behavior are not permitted within the institution, and on the basis of which any users/visitors who do not follow the rules can be ejected
- Drawing up rules for attendants and cash desk staff as well as other employees in the institution which state their individual obligations and duties, including those relating to the prevention of vandalism
- Rules for handling any individual visitors or groups who give rise for concern, and for accompanying school classes or youth groups
- Rules for monitoring and controlling exhibitions or exhibits where an elevated risk of vandalism has been identified.

In order to avert vandalism, it is first of all necessary to spot potential offenses and perpetrators. The following are telltale signs that an act of vandalism is about to be committed:
- Visitors making loud, derogatory comments on entering the exhibition or around a certain thematic area or exhibit
- Refusal to deposit bags, umbrellas or coats
- Aggressive and arrogant responses to instructions and warnings from attendants
- External appearance of visitors that is clearly at odds with the theme of the exhibition (e.g. obviously neo-Nazi individuals visiting an exhibition about the holocaust or foreigners in Germany)
- Visitors or groups under the influence of alcohol
- Noticeably undisciplined and loud show-offs in a group of schoolchildren
- Visitors whose facial expression, clothing and/or behavior indicate they might have a personality disorder.

If an act of vandalism is committed, staff must respond quickly and proportionately in order to avoid further escalating the situation. Key points to note:
- Remain calm and encourage your staff and visitors/users to keep calm as well.
- Try to stop the perpetrator from continuing, but without putting yourself at risk.
- Try to de-escalate the situation with the perpetrator and get him away from the object concerned.
- If you can detain the perpetrator, take him to a neutral location and have at least two people guard him.
- Alert other staff, managers and the police immediately.
- Keep visitors away and ask them to leave the room.
- Leave the damaged object untouched and do not remove any evidence.
- Contact a conservator or other suitably qualified specialist immediately in order to safeguard the vandalized object for conservatorial purposes.

Most vandalism committed by children and adolescents is the result of boisterousness, showing off or thoughtlessness so it is a good idea to talk to school classes and youth groups before exhibition visits in order to discourage any acts of vandalism. The teachers/group leaders should also be involved.

If artworks are displayed in the immediate vicinity of an institution, vandalism is just as likely to be committed as inside the building. In fact, the risk of damage or destruction is even higher as perpetrators will often think they are an easier target. As well as artworks displayed outdoors, the actual building envelope constitutes the most frequent target of vandalism, especially in the form of graffiti. To protect against vandalism in outdoor areas, some simple precautions are often enough, e.g.:
- Stable and intact fences or other barriers
- Clean and tidy grounds and immediate surroundings
- Adequate lighting, including for more remote areas of the grounds or at the rear of the building (e.g. temporary lights triggered by motion sensors)
- Locked garbage and paper containers sited far away from artworks or facades with windows
- Storing combustible materials and flammable or explosive substances (propane gas bottles) at an adequate distance from the building or artworks
- Application of anti-graffiti coatings to artworks and (if possible) to the building.

Cultural property can also be at risk from problematic establishments in the immediate neighborhood, or from groups of people who hang around them, especially those with violent tendencies when under the influence of alcohol (clubbing/drugs scene, trouble hotspots, etc.). Incidents around regular sporting events (football games), demonstrations held by radical political groups, and other major events where large numbers of people congregate should also be taken into account, as these may give rise to rowdy behavior or acts of violence by individuals. These events are particularly relevant to your institution if it is located directly on common access roads, demonstration routes, gathering places or symbolic sites. Acts of vandalism may not necessarily be directed specifically against artworks or the building itself - damage may be caused unintentionally in the wake of violence, or may be tacitly accepted.

Artworks in public spaces which are accessible to everyone 24 hours a day are at high risk of being damaged or destroyed by vandalism. Effective defenses against attacks are difficult to put in place and often cannot be implemented reliably. Even if no all-round protection is possible, however, specific measures for deterring vandalism, limiting the damage, and documentation should be considered and implemented. If video technology is used, special rules apply and the necessary permits must be obtained.

The presence of police and local security service providers can help attacks on an institution or artworks in public spaces to be spotted more quickly, forestalled or averted. Maintaining close contact also facilitates identifying and agreeing where the main security focus lies, as well as obtaining information about future developments or forthcoming major events. Guards from security service firms can be employed - also on a temporary basis for special events or for the duration of a particular exhibition - to protect the institution.

Evidence of damage/destruction can be used in particular to submit claims for compensation or redress in any criminal or civil proceedings. As a rule, compensation will only be awarded for specific proven damage. If any damage is not fully documented, evidence for a particular period might be missing and consequently claims for compensation against the perpetrator may not be recognized. This documentation also forms an important basis for conducting future risk assessments in your institution.

Vandalizing objects is a criminal offense and it is also in the general public interest to prosecute perpetrators. Even if they are not recognized or arrested immediately in connection with an act of vandalism in your institution, they may well be identified in connection with other crimes or incidents. As a rule it is only possible to convict perpetrators and consequently submit claims for compensation for damage that can be substantiated with evidence. If damage caused by vandalism is not reported to the police, it cannot be pursued further by the police or the courts. It may also make it impossible to submit an insurance claim. And last but not least, if convictions and sentences are publicized, it may help to deter other acts of vandalism.