Collection
The Museum of the Galician People’s collection consists mainly of everyday objects created and used by Galician society to satisfy both its practical and spiritual needs. Although it originally began as an ethnographic collection focused on rural and maritime life, over time it has expanded to include artistic and historical elements.
A key feature of the collection is that it does not consist of unique or rare pieces of high economic, aesthetic, or artistic value. Instead, it is made up of everyday domestic, personal, and ritual objects crafted for a specific purpose and functional use, many of which had been long forgotten in lofts and attics. Now they are no longer necessary for practical purposes, they are beginning to be appreciated for other reasons and acquire a new, cultural value. It is these everyday items that awaken our memories and provide an insight into the way of life of past Galician society, offering valuable information about customs, social structure and beliefs, etc.
Today, the museum's collection comprises nearly 15,000 pieces. New objects are constantly being added to the collection, which continues to grow thanks to donations from individuals and institutions, which account for 90% of the total. A mere 15% of the collection is on display in the permanent exhibition rooms, while the rest is kept in storage for use in temporary exhibitions, activities, loans, and research.
The museum's collection began with the items displayed in the first three exhibition rooms, which opened to the public in 1977: pottery, textiles, and basketry. These initial pieces mainly came from contributions made by the museum’s founding patrons. The pottery room was enriched by the magnificent ceramic collection of Luciano García Alén and María García Ayaso, and features pieces from various pottery villages across Galicia. The textile room is based on contributions from Ramón Villares Paz and Cipriano Jiménez Casas, as well as pieces recovered from the former Seminar of Galician Studies, which were exhibited in its museum between 1930 and 1936. The remaining objects, particularly those in the basketry room, were acquired from artisans across Galicia thanks to the efforts of various members of the museum’s Board of Trustees.
Requests to access the collections must be made in writing by sending the corresponding form, duly signed, to the Museum of the Galician People. THE FORM MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE PROJECT.
Requests to make copies of documents and bibliographical materials included in the collection must be made in writing by submitting a completed and signed application form to the Museum of the Galician People.
A charge of €12 (inclusive of VAT) applies to each digital copy made.
Título info
Donations
Building the Museum of the Galician People's collection would not have been possible without the donations made by a long list of people since the founding of the institution. If you have an item you believe could form part of the collection and wish to donate it to the Museum, below is a list of the conditions and details of the procedure.
Proposals for accessioning objects at the Museum of the Galician People must be made in writing. Please provide as much information as possible about the object, and at least one photograph.
If the proposal is accepted, the donor must be aware that acceptance does not oblige the Museum of the Galician People (MPG by its Galician initials) to exhibit or disseminate it. However, the MPG does guarantee the following:
The donated items shall be included in the collection and shall therefore receive the same treatment as all other objects therein, guaranteeing their conservation and study by the technical team and availability to researchers wishing to access them for their work. The items may be included in permanent or temporary exhibitions organised by the Museum of the Galician People or loaned to other institutions for inclusion in their exhibitions.
Items of proven authenticity.
Items whose ownership is clear.
Items obtained in compliance with the regulations in force regarding the protection of Cultural Heritage.
Objects in accordance with the museum contents, including both those that complete existing collections and help fill any gaps or deficiencies in them, as well as those that allow the creation of new collections and typologies that can serve as the foundation for future exhibition projects.
Objects that are significant due to their historical, artistic, cultural, functional, or symbolic value in relation to the life, customs, beliefs, economy, art, and history of Galicia over various periods.
Materials of interest for research purposes, with details of their cultural, social, territorial, and temporal origin, including all available information about their history (who they belonged to, how they were acquired, how long they were used for, etc.).
Donations with conditions regarding the exhibition, conservation, research, or dissemination of the donated items.
Temporary deposits owned by private individuals, except in cases where a deposit is made prior to the formal acquisition of the item.
Thematic collections focused on a single type of item: collections of watches, radios, canes, etc.
Objects that, due to their nature, size, location, or transportation, would involve a financial outlay that the Museum of the Galician People is unable to meet.
Contemporary works of art created by the donors themselves.
Models and reproductions that constitute exhibition resources designed and created according to the criteria established by the Museum of the Galician People for each specific project.
Items in a poor state of conservation and whose deterioration cannot guarantee their conservation or poses a risk for the rest of the existing collection.
Perishable materials are likewise not accepted.
No potentially dangerous materials will be accepted, including, but not limited to explosives, flammable materials, or items containing asbestos or other toxic or carcinogenic components.
