Museum or Gallery???

[PeterG]

The Windsor Wood Carving Museum is beginning a reinvention of sorts. I have posted before about some of our operational woes. Those are behind us for now - we sold one piece from our collection, a life size carving of Chief Tecumseh by Neil Cox, our signature piece. We are fortunate that for the short term we are still able to display this with the rest of our collection.

Now to the question of the day - as part of our reinvention should we consider renaming the museum? If we do, do we change to a gallery, museum & gallery, or maintain the status quo?

Would a more "national" name, for example "Canadian Wood Carving Gallery", attract your attention and make you more likely visit than the current local name?

I'd really appreciate input from the forum.

[pallin]

The designation of "local, provincial, or national" should denote the type of displays. Do they only include works of local origin? The term "museum" (to me) denotes "old stuff," whereas "gallery" means "recent creations." I remember my disappointment at visiting a place claiming to be something like "the Universal Museum of Wood Carving" only to discover it contained only western caricatures.

[AlArchie]

I'd go with "The Windsor Woodcarving Museum and Gallery" indicating a collection of historic and current material.

And by using the Windsor name, you give it some nationally known recognition while retaining a local ambiance.

Al

[Lynn O. Doughty]

I was going to say leave it as a museum but Al came up with an even better answer. Museums contain collections held for posterity where a gallery normally denotes a place where things are for sale. I have a gallery but sometimes when I go in there and look around and see certain carvings that seem to have taken up permanent residence I think maybe I should change the name to museum.

[SlowMover]

If i saw a sign for a museum, I would expect to be able to look at really high quality or historicaly significant artifacts. if I saw a sign for a gallery, I would expect to find objects for sale, the quality would not (to me) be indicated by the word gallery...just that they had objuects (usually art) for sale. A Museum and gallery implies both functions to me. If you do not sell a lot of stuff, I would not put gallery in your name.

[Kazook]

I agree, with the others but isnt everything forsale? put both in the name then you will get both audiences, and if someone offers the right price for something, sell it and buy more high value pieces, nothing wrong with change, people would likley return to see what new aquisitions you have made, I would donate one of my pieces if it helps keep it going. cheers from Peterborough

[Lonewolfcarver]

I think AlArchie hit the nail on the head with his suggestion. Shawn

[hold still]

"The Windsor Woodcarving Museum and Gallery"

[TreeWizard]

I"m not sure of the tax implications in CANADA but if you use the term gallery will the government be looking for some sort of tax on sales. If you stay a museum they may not expect any revenue from taxes as most museums I know of are tax exempt.

[Robson Valley]

I expect museums to have collections, some of which may be available only by appointment.
I expect galleries to be marketing barns.

I think that the descriptor word(s) help their definition: "National Gallery" suggests a collection.
(Blow's Art Gallery) suggests sales of work.

However, be aware that in some english-speaking countries like Australia, and Canada also, Art Galleries have the most stunning collections of work and NOT for sale. You have to go to Melbourne and stand in front of the McCubbin(?) tryptic, the panels are 10' high.