Did the museum pay the artist for this work?  If so, then that receipt would show ownership.  You would not need a Deed of Gift for that...and even if no paid it was produced FOR the museum so it should be yours.  That however would not necessarily transfer the copyright which you may want to pursue with the executrix or the artists heirs.

Tracie  



-----Original Message-----

From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Regan Brooks

Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 3:42 PM

To: [log in to unmask]

Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Opinions please



Happy Holidays Listers!



I have a question for everyone: we have found a box of drawings in our collection. According to the paperwork (a temporary deposit receipt and a typed memo) the drawings were done by a local artist, feature articles of clothing from our collection, and were done specifically for an exhibit here at the museum. The artist, at the time of the paperwork, was in the late stages of Alzheimers and the curatorial staff at that time decided to accession the drawings into the collection. Now, the current curator and I both feel as though we need some form of Deed for these. My question is this: since they were produced for the museum for an exhibit, would that give us ownership of the drawings and if we felt a Deed necessary, we could then get the Director or the Board to sign one? Or should we instead attempt to make contact with the executrix of the (now deceased) artist's estate, who in all honesty, might be deceased themselves by this point, and have them sign a Deed?



Thoughts? Comments? Ponderings? Winning lottery numbers?



Regan Brooks

Registrar

Gaston County Museum of Art & History

PO Box 429

Dallas, NC 28034-0429

704.922.7681 ext. 107

www.gastoncountymuseum.org



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" Be nice to the archivist, or she'll erase you from history!" - Anonymous



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