Fundraising Auctions: Issues and Alternatives for Art Organizations
This Professional Guidelines topic is intended to more fully inform art organizations about the impact that fundraising auctions have on the entire arts community.
Organizations sponsoring or benefiting from fundraising auctions, especially those involved with the art community should act responsibly when planning fundraising efforts. Artwork needs to be handled and displayed with care and respect. Every effort should be made to obtain the highest prices for donated work, minimum bids and reserve prices should be established.
In addition to discussing some of the pros and cons of fundraising auctions, this document also includes a number of alternatives for fundraising. Each alternative includes both Advantages and Disadvantages for the particular fundraising method.
Download PDF Fundraising Auctions: Issues and Alternatives for Art Organizations.
This is one of four Professional Guidelines documents about Fundraising Auctions,
each addressing a different perspective:
Fundraising Auctions: Issues and Checklist for Artists
Fundraising Auctions: Issues and Impact for Galleries
Fundraising Auctions: Issues and Recommendations for Collectors
Fundraising Auctions: Issues and Alternatives for Art Organizations
Fundraising auctions can be a successful way for organizations to raise needed funds. However, frequent auctions or multiple auctions from various groups can have a significantly negative impact on the art community—the very constituency they wish to support. A few auctions may sell work for bids above the retail prices; this benefits the organization, the donors, and the art community in general.
Unfortunately auctions have, in general, gained a reputation for selling artwork at considerably less than retail prices –with negative consequences. Over-reliance on auctions as fundraising mechanisms may ultimately harm galleries, collectors and individual artists by siphoning off gallery sales, devaluing artists’ work, and reducing the ability of artists and galleries to make a living.
For more information read the complete document
PDF Fundraising Auctions: Issues and Alternatives for Art Organizations