Donations of Works

The Tom Thomson Art Gallery gratefully accepts donations of objects that meet our collecting priorities and enhance our collections.  Tell us what you have. Please direct your enquiry to Virginia Eichhorn to arrange for an appointment.    You can also send details of the work (size, date, artist, medium) and a jpeg image to veichhorn@owensound.ca.

In conformity with national and international museum standards, the TTAG does not offer financial appraisals or evaluations of objects to the general public. When possible we can recommend appraisers or you can contact the Art Dealers Association of Canada or the Canadian Antique Dealers Association.

If you are interested in having an artwork identified, we ask that you contact the Gallery in order to arrange for an appointment with one of our curatorial staff.  We regret that we are unable to view artworks without an appointment being made in advance.

If you have a work you would like to donate to the collection, please contact the Gallery’s Director/Curator Virginia Eichhorn at 519-376-1932 x 223. There are tax incentives to making a donation to a public art gallery – be sure to discuss this with your accountant.

In terms of the procedure for acquiring, the curator identifies works for potential acquisition then brings those works forward to the Collections Management Committee for review. The curator presents a defense of the work in question, directed at demonstrating the relevance of the piece to the existing collection; the quality of the work; the authenticity and provenance of the piece; the physical condition of the work; the cost, the ethical and legal suitability for acquisition; evidence that the Gallery may acquire clear title and the compatibility with the Gallery's ability to provide proper care and conservation, including the environmental conditions required. Acquisitions that are approved by the Committee are taken before the Board of Management for ratification. 

This procedure can take several weeks to a few months – but the Gallery is making a permanent commitment to preserve works in its care for the future.