Art Donation

The permanent collection of the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts has grown through the generous donations of individuals and corporations. We invite you to participate in the KIA’s mission to promote the enjoyment and understanding of art by donating a work of art or funding a purchase of art for the collection.

Many works of art in the KIA’s collection have been generously donated by private individuals. If you are interested in donating a work of art please fill out the form below to initiate your inquiry.  

The KIA collects the following: 

• American art of the 18th century to the present, with a focus on paintings and sculpture 
• Works on paper of any period and culture, including prints, drawings, and photographs 
• Ceramics and glass from the 19th century forward 
• Works by artists of Southwest Michigan that satisfy the above criteria 
• Arts of select cultures, including Pre-Columbian, African, Oceanic, and East Asian (Chinese, Japanese, and Korean). The KIA’s collection of East Asian art includes both historical and contemporary works. 

To begin the process we require:

• Your contact information: name, mailing, and email addresses, and daytime phone number.
• Images of the work(s) to be considered, 
• Artist’s name, title of work, date of work, medium, and dimensions.
• How, when, and where the piece(s) was acquired.

Please note artwork donations require at least 90 days to review. If the artwork is determined to complement the KIA collection, one of the curators within the Exhibitions Department will contact you. At that time we will make arrangements to transfer the work to the KIA and prepare a formal gift agreement. Donated artworks must be presented to the KIA’s Collections Advisory Committee for final approval.

All donations are unconditional and irrevocable. The KIA cannot provide appraisals or authenticate artwork.

Thank you for your interest in donating to the KIA’s collection. To begin the review process for an artwork donation, please fill out this form. We will respond acknowledging receipt of your request within 60-90 days of your submission.