Currently, Canadian art institutions collect major artists’ work who have reached significant status through exhibitions and representation in major public institutions in Canada and abroad. The number of these artists is small in relation to the number of fine artists who have significant bodies of work, but who are not currently being collected. When artists die, only the work of a few high-profile individuals are collected and protected in private collections, public galleries and museums.

The vast majority of work from any era instead disappears into oblivion. Several decades later though, that epoch will become interesting again and a frustrating search begins for any remaining artifacts. In almost all cases, the essential background documentary material of an artist’s creative journey is lost, especially of lesser-known individuals. With the shift to digital art, the interest in manual delivery of art will lessen and precious knowledge of techniques and materials will no longer be common. They will be harder to access and obtain.

Many of the less heralded artists are forced to abandon their work. It ends up being destroyed or disseminated without care. Often, the primary artifacts which make the artists’ legacy are lost in the process: the notes, letters, sketchbook, catalogues, exhibition records and other ephemera.

The Canadian Art Preservation Foundation seeks to ensure merited artists works and their artifacts can be stored in archival manner so that their legacy can be examined, catalogued, studied and exhibited in the future. The works will be made available for study purposes to educational organizations such as educational institutions, museums and public galleries. We invite you to make a tax-deductible monetary donation to support us in our mission. Additionally, if you would like to collaborate or contribute, please get in touch.