The San Diego Museum of Art welcomes donations of works of art that advance the Museum’s mission and augment the Museum’s collections.

All donations must undergo curatorial review before being accepted. The first step in the donation process is to mail or email photographs of the objects accompanied by detailed descriptions and provenance (history of ownership). Please do not bring works of art into the museum without making an appointment with our curatorial team. For more information contact the Museum curatorial team at curatorial@sdmart.org.

Upon receipt, the images and documentation will be researched and circulated among the curatorial team to determine if the items are appropriate for addition to the Museum’s permanent collection. After review and discussion, a representative from the curatorial department will contact you with our decision. All potential gifts recommended by the curators are presented to the Museum’s Collections Committee for final approval, which meets five times annually.

If the object is accepted for the collection and the donor wishes to declare it as a tax deduction, the donor is responsible for obtaining a third party appraisal.

Due to gallery and storage limitations, however, the Museum is not able to accept every gift of art offered. The San Diego Museum of Art is grateful for all offers of gifts to its collection.

 

 

Court Scene with Dancing and Feasting, 1920. 20th century Iran Decorative Arts Ceramic Tile. Museum purchase with funds provided by The Asiatic Arts Committee of the Fine Arts Society and Mrs. Irving T. Snyder, 1958. 1958.33.