Donation Process
At the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, we aim to collect, exhibit, research, promote, and preserve work by Canadian artists and makers in clay, glass, and vitreous enameling.
We generally collect contemporary (made after 1950) Canadian works that are made entirely or partially of clay, glass, or enamel. In some cases, we accept works by international artists as comparison and representation of their practices. We have four collections at the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery: The Permanent Collection, The Study Collection, The Archives, and The Sinclair Family Library.
Due to storage constraints, we are sometimes limited in the objects that we can accept for our collections. For example, we do not typically accept more than three pieces by the same artist into our Permanent Collection.
There are many costs associated with the donation of an artwork. Short-term costs can include shipping, appraisals, conservation treatments, and copyright fees. Long-term expenses include insurance and storage costs. The Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery may ask donors to cover associated costs such as appraisals and shipping if the artwork is acquired. We are happy to accept this support as a donation, for which the donor will receive an additional tax receipt.
If you are interested in supporting the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery’s Collections through donations of artworks or archival materials, complete the donation inquiry form below or contact Katherine Marshall, Registrar, at 519-746-1882 x 228 or collections@theclayandglass.ca. Walk-ins are not encouraged.
If you are interested in making a financial contribution to support acquisitions, collections management, conservation, or other opportunities, contact Sarah Stanners, Executive Director, at 519-746-1882 x231 or director@theclayandglass.ca
We are a recognized charity, and as such, qualifying donations made to our collections can receive a tax donation receipt. At the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, we are certified to hold Canadian Cultural Property. This designation is given to artworks and objects of Canadian cultural significance by the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board. To learn more about Canadian Cultural Property, click here.
If you wish to make a donation of art objects to the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, please fill out the following inquiry form to begin the process:
The Donation Process
Once a proposed donation is made our process is undertaken to gather information, and to present each proposed donation to our Acquisitions Committee, and then the work is either accessioned into one of our collections or returned to the donor.
- Our acquisitions committee is made up of local artists, craft professionals and experts, and community members. This committee meets approximately every four months to decide which pieces should be acquired by the Gallery in accordance with our mandate, current holdings, and collections policy. If the Committee approves a donation, the Gallery will move ahead in the acquisition process.
- The full acquisitions process can take a few months depending on when the donation was proposed.
- After a piece is accepted or rejected by the Committee, the piece will either be returned to the donor, or a Deed of Gift will be sent, signing over the legal ownership of the work to the Gallery.
- The credit line or recognition of the accepted donation should be indicated by the donor on the Deed of Gift. If you wish to remain anonymous, please indicate this on the Deed. If you are an artist donating your own work, you may also be asked to sign an Exhibition and Reproduction Licence.
- Once the piece is acquired and the Deed of Gift is signed, the gallery will appraise recent acquisitions and issue a tax donation receipt for the fair market value of each piece. Works acquired in the previous year are appraised each January and tax donation receipts are sent to donors in February. Tax donation receipts are valid for the tax year in which the Deed was signed. The Gallery does not provide financial advice.
Canadian Cultural Property
Donations of artworks of significant cultural value may be submitted to the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board to be certified as Canadian Cultural Property. The certification process can be suggested by the Gallery or the donor upon the proposal of a donation. The Gallery does not provide financial advice and donors are encouraged to consult their advisors to determine the best benefit for their individual situation. It is not recommended that donations valued under $5,000 CAD be submitted as Cultural Property.
The application will be completed by Gallery staff. Due to limited funds, the Gallery kindly asks the donor to pay for the required appraisals. Donations must be completed, and ownership transferred to the Gallery prior to submitting for Cultural Property Certification. Donors will be notified directly by the Review Board. The application can take anywhere from 6 months to a year.
Please be aware that the Review Board meets once every quarter. The Gallery should be contacted regarding a potential Canadian Cultural Property donation as early as possible ahead of the deadline to ensure adequate time for appraisals and documentation. For more information about the CCPERB Process and upcoming deadlines, click here.
If you are interested in applying for cultural property with your donation and want to learn more contact Katherine Marshall, Registrar at 519-746-1882 x228 or collections@theclayandglass.ca or Peter Flannery, Senior Curator & Collections Manager, at 519-746-1882 x235 or peter@theclayandglass.ca.
Bequeathing and Legacy Gifts
For information on bequeathing to the gallery, please visit our Legacy Giving page.