The International Council of Museums (ICOM) defines a museum as: "a non-profit, permanent institution in the service of society and its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for the purposes of education, study and enjoyment." Visit the ICOM website for more information: http://icom.museum/

Our colleagues at the Alberta Museums Association have produced an excellent publication on the topic of starting a museum. Alberta and Ontario have many of the same considerations to take into account when starting a museum. Here is a link to the information on the AMA website http://www.museums.ab.ca/sendthinkingaboutstartingmuseum.aspx.

Currently, there are over 600 museums in Ontario. Our Guide to Ontario Museums has listed them alphabetically by name, city, type and tourist region.

If you are interested in creating a travelling exhibit, you can contact the Centre for Exhibition Exchange.  The OMA has produced an excellent publication called The Evolution of an Exhibit, Community Museums and Travelling Exhibits

Museums fall under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture in Ontario. Here is a link to the Ministry website http://www.mtc.gov.on.ca/en/home.shtml. Click on Heritage for information relating to museums.

The Ontario Museum Association offers a wide variety of resources to its members. We encourage you to visit our website and see what we have to offer including professional development, networking opportunities, advocacy, etc. If you would like to join the OMA, you can register online here, or print and fill out a membership application, or contact our Membership and Administration Coordinator.

When you are considering donating an object to a museum there are a number of points to keep in mind. Museums use a collections policy to determine what items will be accepted into their particular collections. The cost of maintaining and storing an object, as well as the number of similar objects the museum already has, may affect what a museum can accept. Know what type of object you have and approach a museum that you think might collect this type of object. Like any business, museums prefer that you contact them first and set up an appointment. You may be able to determine if the museum is interested in your object, or if they know of another institution that might accept it, without having to go to the museum. If a museum accepts your object, an agreement must be worked out between the donor and the museum. Normally, there are legal documents that must be filled out and signed by both parties for your mutual protection.

If your object is considered certified cultural property, a tax exemption may also be possible. To learn more about certified cultural property, contact: Movable Cultural Property Program, Department of Canadian Heritage, 15 Eddy Street, 3rd floor, Hull, QC, K1A OM5, tel: 819-997-7761, fax: 819-997-7757, website: www.pch.gc.ca. The Art Dealers Association of Canada (formerly the Professional Art Dealers Association of Canada Inc.) also has information on certified cultural property on its web site at www.ad-ac.ca.

One way to determine the public price of an object is through publications listing current prices. These can be illustrated catalogues published by major auction houses, annual price guides for specialty items or general antiques. Periodicals produced by antique or other collectors may also list prices.

Appraisers can provide a professional opinion on the value of objects. When choosing an appraiser, consider the same factors you would when deciding on any other professional service. Check their references and get a recommendation from a trusted source. You can usually find an appraiser at a commercial antique dealers or a major auction house. For unusual items, you may have to go to a sociality dealer. A museum or gallery may provide a list of reputable appraisers they have used. Museums and galleries may also provide an opinion on the authenticity of an item but they tend to not provide appraisals as a protection for both the institution and possible future donors, due to the potential for conflict of interest. Some institutions do allow staff to make appraisals on items of low value. Revenue Canada allows evaluations of items from donors that are valued at less than $1,000.00. Insurance companies and banks may also refer appraisers they have used. Look for an appraiser who is familiar with your type of object. When choosing an appraiser, it is a good idea to find an arms-length source.

Keep in mind that appraisers are not regulated. Some professional associations do have requirements for membership. The Art Dealers Association of Canada (AD-AC) uses a multiple opinion service for appraisals, which means an appraisal is given from the Association rather than just an individual.

There are several different types of appraisals that can be done for an object:
Tax Purposes: Appraisals for tax purposes must specify "fair market value." In legal terms this is defined as "the price at which material changes hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy or sell, and both having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts." The appraiser should be made aware that the appraisal is for tax benefits and a fee should be paid for this service.
Insurance or replacement value: This type of appraisal can be done to establish a value for insurance coverage.
Probate Value: This form of appraisal is done to determine the taxes to be paid on an estate.

For a formal, written appraisal check for the following items: Business and individual responsible for the appraisal, typed on letterhead, dated and signed - not by another party, type of business, title or position of appraiser at the firm, the expertise of the appraiser (for private individuals), membership in professional and academic associations, name of any outside experts consulted, purpose of appraisal, name of person/institution requesting appraisal, if confidentiality is required, item should be clearly described, any features affecting the value noted (old repairs, significant owner, etc.), what the appraisal is based on, and when possible: object dimensions, medium, technique, subject matter, title, date, attribution and reference to recent sales or published price. 

There are a wide variety of occupations at a museum. In larger institutions, one person may do a specific job while in smaller institutions one person may do many jobs. Museum work can be divided into several general categories including: Administration, Development, Collections/Research, Exhibition, Education/Public Programming, Library, Retail, Facilities. One person may work in one area at a museum, while at another museum an individual may work in several areas. Smaller museums may not have some areas.

Administration

Manager, Director, Executive Director, Chief Executive Officer, President: Chief Executive Officer of the institution. Responsible for policy making, funding, planning, organizing, staffing and directing activities through staff. Responsible for overall supervision of acquisition, preservation, research, interpretation and presentation.

Development

Director of Development: Responsible for development of museum support, including membership. Activities may include funding for capital outlay, purchase and operation of endowments, membership drives, proposals to government, corporation and private foundations, and the planning and supervision of special fundraising events.

Membership Secretary/Coordinator: Compiles and maintains membership lists; processes receipts of dues and contributions; and provides information to members of the institution's supporting organization.

Collections/Research

Chief/Senior Curator, Director of Collections and Research: Responsible for the care and academic interpretation of all objects belonging or lent to the museum. Makes recommendations for acquisition, deaccession, attribution and authentication of objects. Considerable public and donor contact. May supervise one or more curators.

Curator of Collections, Collections Manager: Within the areas of his or her specialization, the same responsibilities as the chief curator. Less public or donor contact. May supervise a collections manager.

Associate/Assistant Curator: Under supervision of curator, responsibility for cataloging, care and maintenance of collection. Usually has knowledge of discipline of the collection. May process and track loans, serving as registrar for museums that do not have that position.

Conservator: Responsible for examination, repair and conservation of art objects, historical artifacts, or scientific specimens.

Registrar: Responsible for creating, organizing and maintaining orderly forms, legal documents, files and retrieval systems associated with the following: acquisitions, acceptance, cataloging, loans, packing, shipping, inventory, storage and insurance. Coordinates all aspects of borrowing and lending objects, including handling and packing of objects, negotiating insurance coverage, processing insurance claims, making shipping arrangements, arranging for security, handling customs procedures, processing requests for rights and reproductions.

Exhibition

Exhibition Director/Curator: Responsible for selecting, scheduling and curating of exhibitions. May be responsible for design, construction and installation of permanent and temporary exhibits.

Chief Exhibit Designer, Director of Exhibition Design: Coordinates and is responsible for design, construction and installation of permanent and temporary exhibits.

Education/Public Programming

Director of Public Programming: Responsible for overall long-term planning of exhibition schedule and such professional practices as acquisition, preservation, research, interpretation and presentation. Responsible for interpretive and educational programs. May supervise heads of exhibits and education departments.

Education Director, Education Curator: Develops, implements, evaluates and/or supervises the museum's educational programs with the goal of enhancing public access to and understanding and interpretation of the collections and resources. The programs, which may employ a variety of media and techniques, may encompass education exhibitions, printed materials, demonstrations, tours, classes, films, lectures, special events, workshops, teacher-training programs, school or other outreach programs, as well as docent/guide training.

Education Assistant/Specialist: Under the supervision of education director/curator, helps develop, organize and implement education programs. Prepares written and other educational materials for programs. May assist by scheduling schools, groups, docents, and field trips.

Volunteer Coordinator: Responsible for the promotion and development of volunteer programs and activities. Coordinates the needs of staff with available, interested volunteers.

Docent A trained volunteer who provides educational tours for museum visitors.

Library

Head/Chief Librarian: Manages library containing specialized collections for the institution. Selects, orders, catalogs, and classifies special collections of books, periodicals and other materials relating to the subject emphasis of the institution.

Retail

Manager of Retail Store/Operations: Oversees museum store operations; responsible for ordering merchandise, merchandise display, pricing policy, employee work schedule and record keeping.

Facilities

Director/Manager of Facilities: Oversees all departments responsible for the physical building and grounds of museum.

Chief/Director of Security: Oversees all phases of building and grounds security to insure protections of persons and property.

Building Superintendent: Responsible for the operation, maintenance and repair of the physical plant including heating, lighting, ventilation, air conditioning and electrical systems, and cleaning services. May supervises maintenance employees, custodians or grounds crews.