Benefit auctions are a vital source of income for US arts organisations, generating, thousands, or millions of dollars. Zoë Lescaze explains what really goes on during bids.
Benefit auctions, popping up every spring like Park Avenue tulips, have become about as ubiquitous as art fairs and openings. Charity sales are the primary means by which artists can pack a philanthropic punch, but they can be an exasperating staple of New York’s art world calendar, burdening the artists who donate work with drawbacks and tax disadvantages. People have been questioning the model for years, but these conversations tend to stall in the absence of alternatives. As artist Laurie Simmons said, “If [artists] put on a talent show, could we get as many people to come and buy tickets? I don’t think so.”
New York’s benefit auctions support a spectrum of art spaces, ranging from nonprofit ... Keep reading on Art News
Benefit auctions, popping up every spring like Park Avenue tulips, have become about as ubiquitous as art fairs and openings. Charity sales are the primary means by which artists can pack a philanthropic punch, but they can be an exasperating staple of New York’s art world calendar, burdening the artists who donate work with drawbacks and tax disadvantages. People have been questioning the model for years, but these conversations tend to stall in the absence of alternatives. As artist Laurie Simmons said, “If [artists] put on a talent show, could we get as many people to come and buy tickets? I don’t think so.”
New York’s benefit auctions support a spectrum of art spaces, ranging from nonprofit ... Keep reading on Art News