Ken:

Sometime in the last decade, our board determined that we would not 
participate fiscally or otherwise in sales of works from temporary exhibits. 
We will put interested parties in touch whomever is selling the work, but we 
do not take a percentage.  It was decided that doing so would be a conflict 
of interest and furthermore might encourage future planners (curutors or 
committees) to choose exhibits based on their profit potential rather than 
aesthetic or educational import.

There has been one exception since I've been here.  In the case of one 
regular traveling exhibition - that of the American Watercolor Society - the 
AWS institutional policy is to donate a percentage of any sale to the host 
museum, and though we have verbally declined profit participation, they've 
sent us a check or two.  These go directly into the acquisitions fund.

We absolutely would not insist on taking a percentage off the price of work 
purchased from an exhibit in our own space.  This sounds to me like a bit of 
bullying, telling an artist that we insist on buying at a discount because 
the museum gave him or her wall space.  We would never.  In the case of 
galleries, I have found that they'll usually give you a "museum discount" if 
you ask nicely.

Jill R. Chancey, Curator
Lauren Rogers Museum of Art
PO Box 1108
Laurel, MS 39441
(601) 649-6374
www.LRMA.org
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ken Deroux" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 11:54 AM
Subject: sales of artwork from temporary exhibitions


>I am wondering what different museums' policies are with regard to the sale
> of artworks from temporary exhibitions in their own galleries, where the
> artwork on exhibit is the property of the artist. These could be solo
> exhibitions, juried group shows and competitions, etc.
> Is it your policy that the museum should participate in facilitating 
> sales?
> If so, do you handle this through your museum shop? Does the shop take a
> percentage of the sale and if so, how much?
>
> Assuming a museum allows sales to be handled through its shop, in the case
> of the museum acquiring an artwork from one of its exhibitions, should the
> museum deduct a percentage of the price as if it were being "sold" through
> the shop, even though the shop may not be directly involved?
>
> More directly, should a museum take a set percentage off the price of an
> artwork which it is purchasing from an exhibition in its own galleries?
>
> Thank you for any replies. I couldn't find any discussion of this topic in
> the archives.
>
> Ken DeRoux
> Curator of Museum Services
> Alaska State Museum
> 395 Whittier Street
> Juneau, AK 99801
> (907) 465-2396
> [log in to unmask]
>
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