Open Forum

 View Only

  • 1.  Are there any museums who restore museum quality objects to sell in their gift shops or at auction to make money for the museum?

    Posted 09-19-2016 07:29 PM
    Hello,

    I thought I would never be in a situation like this. I am trying to
    help a small museum understand that perception is everything and that
    visitors may not understand that the historical object on sale in the
    gift shop is not the same as the one on display in the exhibit hall due
    to a change in status determined internally. These are not
    deaccessioned objects, but mostly donations made directly for this
    purpose. This organization for years have acquired objects to sell
    directly at public auctions or they restore these objects to sell at the
    same auction or in their own gift shop to make money for the museum. I
    was wondering if there is anyone out there whose museum is doing the
    same thing, but have found a solution to the ethical issues surround
    these activities--such as a doll museum that repairs dolls for a fee,
    etc. Any insights would be wonderful, even if your advice is stop this
    action immediately. I am looking for some additional data to help them
    understand the difficulties inherent in doing this sort of activity and
    maybe find a compromise solution so they can have their cake and eat it
    too, even if it is a small nibble. Thanks!

    Karen Whitehair


  • 2.  RE: Are there any museums who restore museum quality objects to sell in their gift shops or at auction to make money for the museum?

    Posted 09-20-2016 12:23 PM

    We discontinued this practice for a number of reasons when I was curator at a California museum. The primary reason was ethics - regardless of firewalls, the store competes with, or infringing upon, the interests of curators and collections. This may not convince administrators, but the economics does. The time curatorial staff spend vetting gift shop items is money poorly spent. Because of the money and time spent vetting giftshop items (no to mention storage material and space needed for that), at best an institution can break even on profits from the items sold. I have had the same experience with making and selling museum replicas - multiple efforts at multiple places resulted in $0 net profit when balanced against staff time. The minimal profit to the institution simply doesn't offset curatorial time that could have been spent on collections.

    ------------------------------
    James Sagebiel
    Collections Manager
    Texas Vertebrate Paleontology Collections
    Austin TX

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Are there any museums who restore museum quality objects to sell in their gift shops or at auction to make money for the museum?

    Posted 09-20-2016 01:49 PM

    I concur with James' comments, and urge you to consider recommending this practice be stopped. The ethical issue should trump all the others, but if it doesn't, perhaps other factors will help your museum see this isn't something that should be carried on by a public trust institution. In my previous institution, sales of excess books (duplicates of those already in the museum's collections) was a similar activity conducted with the aim of generating funds. Staff recognized the ethical issue, and researched the larger "does it even make money?" issue in order to make a sound recommendation to the governing body. After we considered storage space, staff time needed to organize and prepare items for sale, separate donor record-keeping to satisfy IRS regulations, and so forth, such activities were not only not profitable--they were actually draining resources. IRS regulations? Yes, there are tax issues to consider: museums cannot accept donated items, and then turn around and sell them quickly. Items must be held for at least two years if I am remembering correctly. Sales of original artifacts, books, art, etc., are difficult to justify as a mission-related sales activity, so UBIT issues also can come into play for store sales too. I hope this helps as you seek to determine what to do going forward.

    ------------------------------
    Paul Hammond
    Executive Director
    March Field Air Museum
    Riverside, California

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Are there any museums who restore museum quality objects to sell in their gift shops or at auction to make money for the museum?

    Posted 09-20-2016 08:50 PM
    Maybe offering an alternative would help? For example, if a museum donor/supporter organized a silent auction as a benefit for the museum and invited their friends, they could gather objects, sell them and donate the proceeds. This could eliminate the tax liability for the sale and prevent the ethical issue by keeping the objects out of museum hands entirely.

    Seems like museum staff could attend such an event as "honored guests" and avoid any appraisals, endorsements or other sticky issues that come with the museum handling these sales themselves?

    Just an idea...

    Despi Ross
    Founder & Lead Strategist

    The Museum Playbook

    317.260.7850




    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Are there any museums who restore museum quality objects to sell in their gift shops or at auction to make money for the museum?

    Posted 09-23-2016 07:36 AM

    Thank you. This was very helpful.  I already shared these comments and it made them think. 

    ------------------------------
    [Karen] [Whitehair]


    Original Message