The Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery is taking a major step toward establishing a permanent, policy-driven art collection, following City Council’s approval of a comprehensive framework at its regular meeting on November 24.
The decision approved the Permanent Art Collection Policy, a new Permanent Art Collection Gift Agreement, updated Terms of Reference for both the Art Curatorial Committee and the Collections Management Committee, and the gallery’s addition as an eligible project to receive Official Donation Receipts in 2025.
According to the report presented to Council, developing a permanent art collection has been part of the gallery’s long-term plan for several years. Initial groundwork included assessing basement storage conditions and responding to emerging priorities, such as housing and caring for Humboldt Broncos related material. In the meantime, donations have continued to arrive, prompting the need for a clear and consistent collecting framework before formally expanding public intake.
Cultural Services Director Jennifer Fitzpatrick said the package represents an exciting milestone.
“This is something we’ve been planning for a while,” Fitzpatrick told Council. “Your museum board has been doing a lot of work on policy development in this area.”
The newly approved Permanent Art Collection Policy outlines the purpose of the collection, its focus areas, goals, and collecting practices. It also sets short-term objectives and defines conditions around appraisals for donors seeking income tax receipts.
The accompanying Gift Agreement formalizes the transfer of ownership of donated works.
“It’s the actual official legal document,” Fitzpatrick explained. “It’s a transfer of ownership from the donor to the gallery, which is obviously necessary for all the donations to the collection.”
Two committees will guide the intake of new artworks. The Art Curatorial Committee, made up of practicing artists, will review all potential donations to ensure alignment with the collection’s purpose and the gallery’s long-term objectives. From there, recommendations will be forwarded to the Collections Management Committee, composed of three members of the Museum and Gallery board, for final approval.
Fitzpatrick noted that the Terms of Reference for both groups were updated or created to support this new workflow.
“This is where that operational activity happens,” she said, emphasizing that the structure helps ensure a thoughtful, consistent approach to building the collection.
With the gallery added to the city’s list of eligible projects for Official Donation Receipts in 2025, donors will have the option to request tax receipts for art contributions. In such cases, donors must provide a current accredited appraisal of the artwork at their own expense.
Fitzpatrick said this step ensures transparency and compliance.
“This is in case a donor does ask for an official tax receipt… that we have the capacity to then approve that.”
With the policy framework now in place, the Museum and Gallery will begin developing a three-year plan to guide the early phase of the collection. The permanent collection will support in-house exhibitions, contribute to provincial travelling exhibitions, and may eventually form the basis of a rental program.
“Humboldt has a rich history of visual artists,” the report notes, adding that the permanent collection will help preserve an important aspect of the region’s cultural heritage for future generations.