You really need to cross your t's and dot your i's on this.  

The IRS Tax Reform Act of 1984 (see Section 155a of the act) prohibits museum personel from providing appraisals to private individuals.  Are your committee members also employees and are they providing the valuations?  If they are volunteers you should contact a tax lawyer or the IRS and find out if they are covered by the act.

As for bringing in outside vendors - I am not of any illegality involved, but it is most certainly unethical with possible legal ramifications.  For instance, one of your vendors brings in a table which looks just like what the prominent Smith family donated in 19 such and such.  The Smith donor comes to the show and sees the table, assumes its the one they donated and makes accusations.  The Smith family gets a lawyer.  While you might win the court case, your institution's reputation is severly damaged.  There will be those who may have supported you in the future if the allegations had not been made, but have now decided they will not support you based simply on the allegation.

If you have more questions about the appraisal fair, contact Susan Street Cook at 317-776-6000 ext. 253.

Lana Newhart-Kellen
Registrar
Conner Prairie Museum
13400 Allisonville Road
Fishers  IN  46038

>>> [log in to unmask] 03/13/03 11:20AM >>>
Our museum does an annual Antique Appraisal Fair Fundraiser.  Some members
of my committee want to expand the event to host antique dealers selling at
the event.  Myself and my curator are not too enamored of the idea.  I had a
previous experience where an associate group operated a consignment antique
store on my historic property, and it led to confusion that we were
"selling" the collection.  I would like to know others experience or
opinions regarding antique show fundraisers.  Any special concerns-esp.
legal ones that I need to make my committee aware of?

Thanks.

Susan English
Joliet Area Historical Museum

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).