Art Collection Policy

This policy identifies a framework for Vancouver Community College (VCC; the College) for art collection management, including acquisition, accession, de-accession, conservation, storage and display.

This policy applies to all employees and Board members of VCC, and to all art acquired by the College through donation, bequest or purchase. 

1. Vancouver Community College's goal is to provide a culturally balanced collection of artwork and cultural materials which reflects the demographic composition of the diverse college community. As a public institution, VCC prioritizes showcasing artwork, both permanent and temporary, within the College's publicly accessible spaces.


2. VCC recognizes that the removal of cultural material and belongings happens in conjunction with land dispossession, forced relocation and attempted erasure of Indigenous Nations and that paternalism over the ownership, preservation, and care of cultural belongings continues to this day. We acknowledge that The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) Article 11 upholds the right of Indigenous peoples to “maintain, protect, and develop the past, present, and future manifestations of their cultures, such as archaeological and historical sites, artefacts, designs, ceremonies, technologies, and visual and performing arts and literature.” Furthermore, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action (#92) calls on organizations to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework and to apply its principles, norms, and standards to organizational policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous peoples and their lands and resources. This includes but is not limited to committing to meaningful consultation, building respectful relationships, and obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoples before proceeding with projects.


3. Potential donations or purchase of artwork for the Permanent Collection will be reviewed by the Vancouver Community College Art Review Panel (VCCARP) for recommendation to the Vice President, Students & Community Development or their designate.


4. Within available resources, VCCARP will recommend items for the Permanent Collection in a variety of media, styles, time periods and subject matter, including but not limited to:
   
   
   
   1. Art by current and former students, employees or external individuals with significant connections to the College;
   
   
   2. Art that contributes to the knowledge and understanding of the communities in which the College participates or are foundational to this place;
   
   
   3. Art relevant to the College's mission; and
   
   
   4. Contemporary and historical art by Canadian and international artists.
   
   
   
   


5. The Permanent Collection may also include Public Art commissioned or acquired by and /or for the College through recognized public art processes and College procurement policies if applicable.


6. Artwork copyright will remain with the artist unless otherwise assigned.


7. In acquiring any art pieces or collections, the College will seek to know, understand, document, and publicize the history and story of the art. 


8. VCC also recognizes that repatriation (i.e. permanent return of objects to their source community) is an important measure of collections management and will fully consider repatriation requests.


9. The College will establish and maintain, to the highest degree permitted by available resources, standards for the accession, records-keeping, display, storage, maintenance, conservation, transportation and handling of the Permanent Collection, in accordance with the specifications/directions provided by the Artist and/or source community.

Accession

The act of recording and processing a object or artifact so that it becomes part of the College's permanent collection.

Acquisition

The act of acquiring an object so that it becomes part of the College's permanent collection. The College may acquire objects through donation, bequest or purchase.

Art

Objects and associations of elements by artists, in any medium, intended for display and contemplation by others.

Copyright

The sole legal right to reproduce, or allow others to reproduce, in any form, a work or parts of a work, to perform in public, or to publish an unpublished work.

De-accession

The process of permanently removing an object or collection from the College's permanent collection.

Disposition

The appropriate disposal of the artwork or collection, once de-accessioned, by a formal transfer to another owner or by deliberately destroying and discarding it.

Donation

A voluntary transfer of artwork from an individual or organization to an institution.

VCC Art Review Panel (VCCARP)

An ad hoc committee with responsibility to review policy and potential art acquisition and de-accession.

Permanent Collection

An accumulation of art objects formed around identified parameters or centered upon a medium or technique, a certain period or group of artists, or a subject and collected and managed by the College in accordance with respected art collection practices.

Public Art

Works in any medium created by artists specifically to be installed or experienced by diverse communities in the public realm.

Repatriation

The act or process of restoring or returning someone or something to the community of origin, allegiance, or citizenship.

• Archives (521)
• Records Management (520)

Legislation

BC Heritage Conservation Act [RSBC 1996] Chapter 187