Open Forum

I have a question regarding disposal of deed-of-gift donations. Our museum has been fortunate in receiving donated artworks with the stated intention of raising funds through their sale or auction by the musem. We are a non-collecting entity and have limited storage. There have been several attempts to auction/sell/raffle these artworks with no success. 

My question is what is the best way to dispose of these works? I would rather not offend our generous patrons and return their unsold items back to them. Does anyone have any ideas? 

Are there any other similar institutions near you to whom you could gift the pieces?

I have a question regarding disposal of deed-of-gift donations. Our museum has been fortunate in receiving donated artworks with the stated intention of raising funds through their sale or auction by the musem. We are a non-collecting entity and have limited storage. There have been several attempts to auction/sell/raffle these artworks with no success. 

My question is what is the best way to dispose of these works? I would rather not offend our generous patrons and return their unsold items back to them. Does anyone have any ideas? 

Unfortunately, these are not works that anyone would put in a collection. Many are by very dear local artists. 

Are there any other similar institutions near you to whom you could gift the pieces?

I have a question regarding disposal of deed-of-gift donations. Our museum has been fortunate in receiving donated artworks with the stated intention of raising funds through their sale or auction by the musem. We are a non-collecting entity and have limited storage. There have been several attempts to auction/sell/raffle these artworks with no success. 

My question is what is the best way to dispose of these works? I would rather not offend our generous patrons and return their unsold items back to them. Does anyone have any ideas? 

I have a question regarding disposal of deed-of-gift donations. Our museum has been fortunate in receiving donated artworks with the stated intention of raising funds through their sale or auction by the musem. We are a non-collecting entity and have limited storage. There have been several attempts to auction/sell/raffle these artworks with no success. 

My question is what is the best way to dispose of these works? I would rather not offend our generous patrons and return their unsold items back to them. Does anyone have any ideas? 

Hi Heather,

A few ideas:

1. "Garage Sale" / "Black Friday Sale"
   Has MOCA considered holding an extremely tongue-in-cheek garage sale? It'd have silly advertising flyers all over Richmond and other nearby towns - made to look like they were done on a copy machine if possible! - newspaper/craigslist ads, and handbills at the museum door and included in newspapers. Maybe offer free coffee and doughnuts, because even wealthy people love free stuff, and give daily discounts on certain types of works. This depends on making the sale so silly it's respectful to both donors/artists and the museum itself, and over-the-top enough to attract a curious crowd.
   
   There's also the Black Friday model for this year's day after Thanksgiving, where you have one or two loss-leader works that get the rest of the works out the door.
   
   
2. "Buy Dinner, Win a Painting"
   Host a fancy dinner. Depending on the number of people who attend and MOCA's potential profit margin, choose random winners of a few of these donated works. For example, if you charge $50 and 100 people attend ($5000 gross profit), and it costs $2000 for staff and food service, give away works whose combined value is under $1500 so you can still pocket $1500.
   
   
3. "Paints and Pints" / "Sculpt and Sip"
   There are a fair number of places to paint and drink wine, so MOCA can hop on the bandwagon. Put a few of the artworks on display in a non-gallery space with lots of tables & chairs, and invite people to a paid event where they can make their own version of one of the works. Whoever makes the best depiction can take the model work home for free. The key to this is to give everyone two or three drink tickets, to make sure their inhibitions and pocketbooks get loosened.

I hope these give you some ideas!

Best,

I have a question regarding disposal of deed-of-gift donations. Our museum has been fortunate in receiving donated artworks with the stated intention of raising funds through their sale or auction by the musem. We are a non-collecting entity and have limited storage. There have been several attempts to auction/sell/raffle these artworks with no success. 

My question is what is the best way to dispose of these works? I would rather not offend our generous patrons and return their unsold items back to them. Does anyone have any ideas?