How do I donate artworks, objects, images, or documents to The Brinton Museum?

If you have artworks, objects, or materials (including archival or historical documents) that you believe would be of potential interest to The Brinton Museum, we would like to hear from you. Due to the volume of offers the museum receives, we ask that you contact us via email at info @thebrintonmuseum.org to share a description and images of your proposed donation.

Once your inquiry is received, your proposed donation will be assigned to a curator or collections management staff member who will contact you, typically within two to four weeks. If your proposed donation fits within our collecting priorities, museum staff will work with you to receive the artworks, objects, or materials. The offered donation will then be reviewed by the Acquisition Committee, which meets quarterly.

Following formal acceptance by the committee, you will be issued a deed of gift to document the transfer of objects, images, or documents to the museum. The Brinton Museum policy does not allow for restrictions on donations.

Can I mail or drop off a donation?

The museum does not accept donations through the mail or in person unless previous arrangements have been made with the appropriate curatorial or collections management staff member who is authorized to receive offered donations on The Brinton Museum premises. All unsolicited donations sent via mail will be returned to sender.

How are potential donations reviewed?

The Acquisition Committee is composed of staff and museum professionals knowledgeable about both the scope of the museum’s collection and the conservation issues associated with object, image, and document care. The assessment criteria combine best practices from the American Alliance of Museums with The Brinton Museum’s current collecting priorities. The condition of the offered donation is also taken into consideration, as is the availability of museum resources required to store, care for, and make accessible its collection. The sensitive nature of the artworks, objects, or materials, as well as ownership of copyrights, can also factor into acquisition decisions.

Will The Brinton Museum appraise my donation for its monetary value?

The museum does not provide appraisals of the monetary value of offered donations because the Internal Revenue Service regards museums as interested parties. Professional appraisers, however, will perform this service for a fee. To find a licensed appraiser in your area, contact one of the following organizations for a referral: the American Society of Appraisers, the International Society of Appraisers, or the Appraisers Association of America.

Can I take a tax deduction for my donation?

The Brinton Museum is recognized as a qualified charitable organization, so a donation to the museum’s collection is generally tax deductible. To ensure that your donation is tax deductible and you receive the maximum tax benefit, we recommend that you consult with your own accountant, attorney, and/or the Internal Revenue Service.

Will The Brinton Museum exhibit the materials in my donation?

The museum cannot guarantee that any artworks, objects, or materials donated to the collection will be exhibited. Only a small fraction of the collection is on view at any given time. However, there are other ways that your donation may be experienced by the public or studied by researchers.

Artworks, objects, and materials from the collection are occasionally loaned to other institutions for temporary exhibitions or made available for viewing through research inquiries. Researchers of all kinds will have access to artworks, objects, and materials in the collection at The Brinton Museum.

If I donate materials to The Brinton Museum, will they be returned to me at my request?

The Brinton Museum’s policy dictates that the museum cannot return accessioned collection artworks, objects, or materials to the donor. Once the committee accepts your donation for the collection, you will be asked to sign a deed of gift, which legally transfers ownership of the artwork, object, or materials to the museum.

Can donated materials be removed from The Brinton Museum collection?

The museum may, with approval from the board of directors, remove artworks, objects, or materials from the collection through a process called deaccessioning, according to strict standards as prescribed by The Brinton Museum’s Collection Management Policy and guided by The American Alliance of Museums.

What if I want to sell something to The Brinton Museum?

The Brinton Museum possesses limited acquisitions funds. Purchases are made according to curatorial priorities, including the specific needs of special collections and exhibitions. If you would like to offer something for purchase, please contact us at [email protected] with details about your item.