About Our Collections

Our goal is to collect objects, photographs, archival records, artworks, and other materials that help tell the stories of the people, places, events, organizations, industries, and communities that have shaped our region. Each item holds a story, and often more than one. These stories may be rooted in family, community, land, work, migration, cultural knowledge, creative expression, gathering places, local economies, public life, and everyday experiences that help us better understand High Prairie and the surrounding region.

The museum’s collection focuses primarily on the human history and community heritage of High Prairie and the surrounding region. We welcome potential donations that help us reflect the diversity of people and experiences that make up our community’s past and present. Because the museum has limited space and resources, not every item offered can be accepted into the collection. Each potential donation is reviewed carefully to ensure it fits the museum’s collecting mandate and can be properly cared for, documented, and used in exhibits, programs, research, or other public learning opportunities.

What We Collect

The High Prairie and District Museum holds three core collections in the public trust:

• Artworks:  Artworks are original visual or creative works connected to the High Prairie and Big Lakes region and its communities. This may include paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, fibre arts, printmaking, ceramics, mixed media, digital media, installation, and other traditional or contemporary artistic practices collected for their artistic, cultural, historical, or community significance.

Criteria For Collecting

The High Prairie and District Museum collects, preserves, and shares material that reflects the histories, cultures, landscapes, and community life of High Prairie and the surrounding region. Every item accepted into the collection is considered for its ability to help us learn, understand, remember, spark curiosity, and share meaningful stories with present and future generations.

As a result, we have established the following criteria for donations we can accept into the collection:

• Hold a meaningful story: The item should help tell a story about life in High Prairie or the surrounding region, whether past or present.
• Connect to the museum’s mandate: The item should relate clearly to the people, places, events, organizations, cultures, industries, or community life of the region.
• Include strong background information: The museum needs as much information as possible about who made, owned, used, or kept the item; where it came from; how it was used; and why it matters.
• Be in suitable condition: The item should generally be stable enough for the museum to care for, unless it is especially significant to the history of the community.
• Be offered without conditions: If an item is accepted into the collection, it becomes the legal property of the museum. This allows the museum to care for, store, exhibit, research, interpret, lend, or, where appropriate, deaccession the item in accordance with museum policy.
• First Nations and Métis Cultural Materials:  The museum’s preference is that First Nations and Métis artifacts, cultural belongings, and community records remain with, or be returned to, their respective communities whenever possible. Items created by or relating to First Nations or Métis people, families, communities, or cultural traditions may be considered only after consultation with the appropriate Nation, Métis community, family, or rights holders. The museum respects that some materials require cultural protocols, permissions, or community direction before they can be accepted, cared for, interpreted, or made accessible.