We’ve
been doing an event like this for going on nine years. It is one of our more
successful fundraisers. We avoid using the word appraisal in any of our
literature since technically speaking the appraiser should have done research
into the market value of each item and provide a written report. Instead we
call them “verbal statements of value.”
In the past we
have tried the local collector exhibits and also some hands on techniques (such
as gilding) but found that most people were more interested in the experts (we
don’t call the appraisers because most of them are not trained in
appraising but are dealers or affiliated with auction houses) are saying and
what others have brought in.
We set up our
bookstore at the event and the local conservator’s guild has a booth that
is staffed by conservators that can provide information on caring for and
preserving items. We have the event in the courtyard of a local mall which has
been very good for access and for spontaneous participation (people see the event,
go home and bring things back). We average about 15-17 “experts”
in various fields including some generalists so it is very much like the
Antiques Roadshow. We don’t have the room to hold it at our museum and I
like the fact that it is separate so people don’t think they can bring
their things in anytime and get a statement of value from us – which we
don’t do for any reason at any time.
We see the
event mainly as a fundraiser and not necessarily a method of getting people to
join or visit our museum or research center. What ever new members or visitors
we get we see as a nice byproduct plus it is another way to get our name out
into the community.
Heidi
Campbell-Shoaf, Curator
Historical
Society of
www.hsfcinfo.org
From:
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2007 9:51
AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Appraisal Day
We have done an Appraisal Day for the last four years.
The first two years it was just a fundraising special event. The
appraisers donated their time and we charged for the appraisals which were for
insurance value only. The past two years we have added a
Collector’s Showcase component to the appraisals, where we invite local
collectors to display their collections and share their collections with the
public. This is more educational than the appraisals and has been quite
popular with our attendees.
We have found the Collector’s Showcase and Appraisal
Fair attracts people who have never been to the museum before.
Susan English
Executive Director
(815) 723-5201 ext. 222