Supporters contribute to the advancement of the Visual Art Collection’s mandate and help ensure that our professional standards — educational, curatorial, and conservational — are upheld now and for generations to come. All gifts to the Visual Arts Collection are tax-deductible.
Donate a Work of Art
A select number of artworks are added to the Collection through the generosity of donors each year. Our collecting focuses on — but is not limited to — the work of professional artists whose contributions are culturally and socially significant to McGill, the city of Montréal, the province of Québec, and/or Canada. Professional artists are defined as those whose work has been recognized through exhibitions, gallery sales, and acceptance into museum collections. All donations must be unrestricted gifts and, in keeping with McGill’s gift-in-kind policy, should be revenue-neutral, meaning that the works of art should not require special conservation treatment or repair.
If you are interested in making a donation to the collection, please gwendolyn.owens [at] mcgill.ca (contact) the Director of the Visual Arts Collection. The process begins with a discussion about the artist(s) and the work(s) you wish to donate. Prior to their acceptance, all potential gifts are presented to and reviewed by the McGill Visual Arts Collection Acquisitions Advisory Committee. Once a gift is accepted, a tax receipt is issued based on the appraised value of the work of art.
Make a Financial Gift
Financial gifts to the Visual Arts Collection help provide new opportunities for conservation, research, and the training of aspiring museum professionals. Donations in all amounts tremendously impact our ability to achieve these goals. To make a donation, visit McGill University's Donate Now page or gwendolyn.owens [at] mcgill.ca (contact) the Director of the Visual Arts Collection.
In Fiat Lux, McGill’s new library complex, the Visual Arts Collection will finally have a dedicated home in a state-of-the-art facility that will serve as public destination, as well as an inspiration for students, staff, and faculty. Housed in the refurbished Library, the new space will provide greater access to contemporary and historic artworks, curated and showcased in a climate-controlled, secure space. If you are interested in supporting this project, please gwendolyn.owens [at] mcgill.ca (contact) the Director of the Visual Arts Collection.
Melvin Charney, Cities on the Run... Three Stragglers, 1999, welded aluminum, sandblast, and lacquer finish.
Gift of Lillian and Billy Mauer. © Estate of Melvin Charney / SOCAN (2019)