Deaccessioning

The Canadian Canoe Museum maintains professional standards for its collection. Objects that have been formally accessioned into the collection remain with the museum as long as they can be properly preserved and are relevant to the mission of the museum. Occasionally, objects may be considered for deaccession (or permanent removal) to improve the integrity and quality of the collection.Moreover, the act of moving artifacts on to another institution can often enhance that piece’s likelihood of being exhibited and made accessible to the public.Deaccessioning is a multi-step process that is carefully considered by the museum’s curatorial staff, its Collections Committee and its Board of Directors.  Deaccessioned objects may be transferred to another public institution or, if unsuccessful,publicly sold at auction. All proceeds from itssale will be used for ongoing costs associated with collections care and conservation.

With over 600 canoes in the museum’s permanent collection, the Canadian Canoe Museum has been carefully reviewing its watercraft collection to ensure that the objects are still relevant to the museum’s mission and vision. If an item is deemed suitable for deaccession, the object will be presented to the museum’s appointed Collections Committee and Board of Directors to determine the status of the object.

The museum will do its due diligence by reviewing all documentation, provenance information, and consult with experts when necessary.

Overview of Procedure
Objects considered for deaccession are presented by the Curator to the museum’s appointed Collections Committee. The procedure to deaccession on object will be made in accordance with the Canadian Museum’s Association Deaccessioning Guidelines, found here and the museum’s Collection Policy.  An object must meet at least one of the following criteria to be considered for deaccession:

    • Scope: Does the object no longer fall within the scope of collections as defined by the Museum Collection policy?
    • Stewardship: Is the Museum no longer able to provide proper care for the object?
    • Condition: Has the object deteriorated beyond the point of usefulness?
    • Duplication: Are there duplicate objects in the collection that are in better condition or are better representations of the type?
    • Authenticity: Is the object a poor representation of its type or its documentation lacking, making its valueless for the purposes of exhibition, scholarship or education?
    • Time in Collection: Has the object been in the collection at least three years?

For transparency and educational purposes, the Canadian Canoe Museum will post deaccessioned objects on its website when they are available to the public.

There are currently deaccessioned items available at public auction here.

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