The Summerland Museum invites Summerland residents to contribute notable ephemera and testimonials to the Museum’s ongoing COVID-19 collecting project. Utilising the concept of “rapid response collecting” established by the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the Summerland museum aims to collect significant material that will be informative to future generations. Through written accounts, audio and video recordings, photos, art, and objects, the Museum will preserve an accessible public record of this unprecedented moment in history.

We recently passed the one-year mark of life within the COVID-19 pandemic era. In a short span of time, we have all adapted to this “new normal,” coping with feelings of uncertainty and isolation. During this time when we must all socially distance for the greater good of public safety, participating in this archive provides an opportunity for us to connect over our common experiences and remind us that we are all in this together.

Submissions will be accepted into the Summerland Museum & Archives Society collections in accordance with the criteria and procedures outlined in the Museum’s Collections Policy. Only objects with relevance to Summerland, that are in reasonable condition to be preserved in the archive and with traceable provenance will be considered. Items accepted into the COVID-19 Community Archive will be highlighted on our social media, featured in a digital gallery on the Summerland Museum website and used for future research and exhibition development.

The Summerland Museum is currently closed to the public; please contact us to make an appointment for a donation drop-off. The gift agreement form can be viewed and filled out beforehand.

For more information, please contact archives@summerlandmuseum.org