Artwork Donations

The Woodstock Art Gallery's Permanent Collection has grown through generous gifts of works of art and the financial support of individuals, organizations and various levels of government.

Collecting Priorities

To be accepted into the Permanent Collection, works must meet the following collecting priorities:

  • Contemporary and historical artworks by regional artists or with regional significance.
  • Contemporary and historical artworks by Canadian artists of national stature that support the collection and/or education programs.
  • Artworks that address imbalances in the Collection, including those by and/or significant to underrepresented communities, that reflect traditionally neglected narratives and subjects, or are created in lesser represented media.
  • Art, artifacts and archival materials relating to Woodstock artist Florence Carlyle and her contemporaries.
  • Archival materials relating to significant artists within the Collection.

Additional Guidelines

The Collections Committee also considers the following guidelines when making recommendations and determinations:

  • Aesthetic quality and importance.
  • Relevance to the collection(s).
  • Condition (cost of restoration).
  • Price (costs of restoration and conservation are considered in addition to the purchase price of any work of art).
  • Legal title.
  • Attribution (provenance and dating shall be researched and verified before approval at any level).
  • Exhibition right and copyright ownership must be accessible and obtainable.
  • The Gallery shall not accept works of art that have conditions attached (with the exception of requested credit lines)

How to Donate

Please contact our Head of Collections and provide the following information:

  • Description of the work(s) with the artist, date, dimensions, and medium if possible.
  • Images of the work(s).
  • Provenance of the work(s) — when, how, and from whom you acquired these works.
  • Whether you are able to assist with associated costs.

The Director/Curator and Head of Collections review information about possible donations. For works that meet the Gallery’s collecting priorities, Gallery staff will present the potential donation to the Collections Committee which votes on whether the artwork should be accessioned into the collection. The Collections Committee meets four times a year to review potential donations.

For works accepted for presentation to the Committee, staff will compile a formal justification for the acquisition which includes a biography of the artist, how the work connects to the existing WAG collection, regional significance, a condition report, and a collections/storage requirement report. The eventual costs to the Gallery will be explored through copyright, exhibition rights, and other associated rights and fees. The artwork will be brought into the Gallery temporarily for a condition report and for formal presentation to the Collections Committee. If it is determined by the Committee that the artwork be accessioned, donors will be asked to sign a Deed of Gift form, transferring ownership of the artwork to the Gallery. If the work is not accepted, arrangements will be made to return the piece to the donor, at the donor’s expense.

Artworks are then appraised, and a tax receipt is issued to the donor.

The Collections Committee is made up of members of the Gallery's Advisory Board, regional arts professionals, artists, and knowledgeable volunteers from the region. The committee formally reviews all works that are recommended and meets at least four times a year to decide if the offered works should be acquired or not.

If the artwork is accepted by the Collections Committee and ownership is transferred to the Gallery with a Deed of Gift, The City of Woodstock will issue a Charitable Tax Receipt with the following conditions:

  • If a donor has owned the work of art for less than three years, the City will issue a Charitable Tax Receipt for the amount paid by the donor or the fair market value of the work of art, whichever is less.
  • If a donor has owned a work of art for more than three years, the City will issue a Charitable Tax Receipt for the fair market value of the work.

Charitable Tax receipts will also be issued for any donations made to offset the costs incurred by the Gallery in association with your gifts. 

There are many costs associated with a donation. Short-term costs can include shipping, appraisals and conservation treatments. Long-term fees can include insurance and storage costs. In many cases, a donation can cost as much, if not more, than a purchase.

Because of the associated costs, the Gallery asks all potential donors to cover associated costs such as shipping and appraisals. If a work is not accepted, the Gallery asks owners to pay for any shipping costs to return artwork(s). 

The entire process is likely to take several months and we cannot provide a distinct timeline.

Contact Us

Woodstock Art Gallery
449 Dundas St, Woodstock, ON N4S 1C2

(519) 539-6761
Email