Bev/Art Fills Gap for Cultural and Heritage Climate Monitoring

                                                                                                                                          Bev/Art was founded with one purpose: To make the protection of art, heritage and archives accessible. 

Founders Håvard Lystrup and Christian Nielsen combined their abilities – one in business and the other in cultural heritage – and passion for entrepreneurship to meet a need they saw in the climate monitoring space. 

“I’ve always had a deep respect for the arts – my father worked at sea and when he was home, we’d visit museums together,” said Christian, Co-Founder and COO of Bev/Art. “When I began working in the heritage sector, even though my role was not directly related to climate monitoring, I quickly realized there was a gap in technology between what is generally available and what is used for heritage. The tools were bulky, the processes manual. With all the innovation in sensors and connected tech, I couldn’t help but think: there has to be a better way.”

When Christian and Håvard connected during an entrepreneurship program, they decided to test Christian’s theory. 

“I spent a year abroad living with a host father who was an entrepreneur, and it gave me the bug to build something of my own,” said Håvard Lystrup, Co-Founder and CEO of Bev/Art. “When I met Christian, we both saw clear white space for better technology in the cultural and heritage market. We set out to validate it through robust qualitative and quantitative research and once we confirmed the gap, we started building a solution to close it.”

After speaking to dozens of conservators in multiple countries, here is what they heard:

1. Manual data collection is a burden

Many institutions still rely on USB data loggers – devices that require manual downloads, routine calibration, and frequent battery changes. It’s a slow, tedious process, especially when sensors are tucked inside display cases or scattered across remote locations.

Bev/Art’s solution is plug-and-play. The gateway auto-detects nearby sensors for fast, intuitive setup. And with a battery life of 10 to 15 years and ultra-low drift, Bev/Art sensors typically run for years without needing maintenance or replacement.

2. Software frustrations are common

Many existing software interfaces are outdated, clunky, and hard to navigate. Some require on-site access, rely on apps, or come with bulky web experiences. As a result, data often becomes hard to access remotely, especially without IT support or repeated software updates.

Bev/Art’s solution: Once the gateway and sensors are activated, they automatically begin streaming data. The web app, Custodian, works on any device, anywhere, with no need for manual entry, downloads or dedicated apps.

3. Real-time monitoring is desired, but rare

The industry has made progress since the original research, but real-time, cloud-connected monitoring is still out of reach for many. Museums, libraries, and heritage sites often rely on outdated systems and are challenged with concerns around data ownership and integration with infrastructure like SD or CTS systems.

Bev/Art’s solution: The gateway and sensors communicate via SecureDataShot – no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or local network access required. Data is securely transmitted and processed on GDPR-compliant servers, making the system an “easy yes” for IT teams. No software installation. No network requests. Just secure, reliable monitoring from day one.

4. Budget sensitivity shapes most solution selections

Most institutions have to weigh cost against necessity. Even newer subscription models can be a stretch; budgets may allow for capital expenditures, but not ongoing fees. This challenge is especially acute for large collectives managing hundreds or even thousands of sensors and tiny institutions with little to no funding.

Bev/Art’s solution: Whether it’s a small archive or a national museum, Bev/Art offers flexible pricing, including subscriptions to capital-friendly payment plans. And because the system is easy to install and built to last, institutions can save hundreds of staff hours on maintenance and day-to-day management.

5. Limited reporting makes it harder to secure grants or borrow art

Several institutions noted that accessing and compiling environmental data is a major hurdle – especially when applying for grants or borrowing works from other museums. These processes often require facility reports and verified climate records, which can be difficult to generate without the right tools.

Bev/Art’s solution: Users can create intuitive reports with the click of a button and grant time-resctricted, reader-only access to collaborators – such as registrars and other conservators – from partner institutions, allowing them to access the climate data they need anytime. With real-time alerts and continuous data logging, conservators can monitor conditions as they happen and past data can also be uploaded and visualized, enabling users to track trends across weeks, months, or even years – all from one place. 

6. Bulky sensors limit placement and distract from the art

In many institutions, traditional climate sensors are bulky, obtrusive, and difficult to conceal, especially in delicate exhibition environments. Their size not only disrupts visual harmony, it limits where they can be placed. Multiple respondents emphasized the desire for more discreet sensors that can blend into their surroundings without compromising aesthetics, visitor experience, or performance and data quality they need. 

Bev/Art’s solution: The Pro and Nano Sensors from Bev/Art are industry-leading in their discreet size. The Pro Sensor is about the size of a LEGO brick and the Nano Sensor is about the size of a postage stamp. 

It is an incredibly challenging time for many public and private institutions within the cultural heritage community. Budgets are tight, expectations are high, and the pressure to modernize is growing, often without the technical support or resources to match. But with the right tools, even small teams can gain greater control, insight, and confidence in how they care for the collections that matter most.