How you can donate
How do I make a donation?
Download, print and return the form above, together with as much supplementary information as possible about the object and its history. It’s really helpful if you can send us some photographs, too. Please don’t bring items for donation to the museum without agreeing this with us first, as we won’t be able to accept them.
What happens after I make an offer?
We consider each potential acquisition carefully, evaluating it to make sure it supports our mission and doesn’t duplicate items already our collection. Our Collections team will assess each case individually before contacting you to ask for more information or to communicate our decision.
Does my donated item need to be in perfect condition?
Items or collections offered to us should be complete (i.e. not missing significant parts) and in stable condition, but they don’t have to look brand new! It isn’t necessary to clean or repair objects prior to offering them to us. Our team will examine each object to ensure that its condition will allow it to be preserved for future exhibition, research, or educational needs.
Do you accept every item offered to the museum?
No matter how much your item means to you and your family, unfortunately it may not be right for us. If we have to decline your offered item/collection, please do consider offering it elsewhere, i.e. to other local museums, local history societies etc.
Legal ownership
We’ll ask you to complete some paperwork, including a legal document which transfers ownership of the item/collection to the museum. After you transfer ownership of the item/collection to the museum, it will be catalogued, photographed, and prepared for exhibition or storage. Your name, as the donor, will be linked to the piece in our collections database. If the item will be included in an exhibition, museum staff may contact you to carry out additional research. Otherwise, the piece goes into storage.
Will my donation/s be displayed?
Only a small percentage of our collection can be shown in our exhibitions and displays at any one time. However, we update our displays regularly to include items from our stores and offer access to outside researchers interested in the subject/item.
Can I see my artefact again after I’ve donated it?
Yes, you’re welcome to make an appointment with our staff to provide you access to items not on display.
What will my artefact be used for?
In addition to displays and exhibitions, our collections may used by staff, visiting researchers, family and local historians and visiting school groups. We may also loan items from our collections to other Accredited Museums. Some items that we can’t take into the main collection may still be useful as educational resources and we will discuss this with you if this is the case.
Can I have my artefact back if I change my mind?
Once an artefact/collection has been accepted by the museum, you’ll be asked to sign a document transferring full ownership of the item/collection from yourself to the museum in perpetuity. This means that we cannot return items or collections donated to us, so if you have any concerns, please discuss these with us first.