But doesn’t the donor/seller want a tax write-off for the “gift” (value of object minus the selling-price) portion to the museum? Hence, the museum must furnish a deed of gift?

Christine

Christine Droll

Collections Database Administrator

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

4525 Oak Street

Kansas City, MO 64111-1873

t: 816.751.1333

f: 816.751.0499

From: The Museum System (TMS) Users [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Aylsworth, David
Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 9:11 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Accession Method

I have a hard time in seeing such a thing as a gift at all, which is probably my being obstinate. I think that if the Museum paid someone, the person who got paid has a role of “seller”; the accession method is “purchase”. I try to retain the whole notion of a “partial gift” for cases where a donor has only given a percentage interest in the artwork, and the Museum does not yet fully own it.

But that’s just me…

From: The Museum System (TMS) Users [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Glosson, Eunice
Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 9:08 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Accession Method

We do a two part document, a Purchase and Sale Agreement, along with a Deed of Gift for the gift portion. I was wondering how you document these in the constituent portion of TMS? Right now I am calling these a Partial Gift, but have never been completely satisfied that the purchase portion is represented up front.

From: The Museum System (TMS) Users [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Aylsworth, David
Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 9:58 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Accession Method

Hi Eunice,

Those are a little complicated when the “donor” wants a gift form for their portion of a bargain sale. I try to encourage them to handle it more on their side with their accountant than on ours. In my mind, a bargain sale is nothing more than a deeply discounted purchase. The relatively few times that it occurs, I like to see a purchase agreement drawn up that acknowledges what the insurance value of the piece is, as well as what price the Museum has agreed to pay. The “donor” (actually, the “seller”) can then work out their own tax forms to recognize this as a bargain sale.

Does that make sense?

David

From: The Museum System (TMS) Users [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Glosson, Eunice
Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 8:43 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Accession Method

How do you handle bargain/sales?

Eunice Glosson

Registrar for Collections and Museums

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

From: The Museum System (TMS) Users [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Aylsworth, David
Sent: Friday, October 09, 2009 6:00 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Accession Method

In Houston, we very much consider this to be a PURCHASE. It’s something that is always being confused by our curators, but I try to drill home that anytime the institution cuts the check, the accession method is PURCHASE. If we do not cut a check, it is a GIFT.

Similarly, the role of the person who gives funds for a purchase is a FUNDER. If they give an object, they are a DONOR. Something that is purchased should not have anyone with a DONOR role linked to it.

I actually set it up procedurally that we cannot buy a work of art unless the purchase order is accompanied by an “art purchase form” which is a crystal report out of TMS. The “art purchase form” will not run if there is not someone identified as a “dealer or seller” as well as someone identified as “funder” and the accession method switched over to “purchase”. It’s worked surprisingly well

David

David Aylsworth

Collections Registrar

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

telephone: 713-639-7824

fax: 713-639-7780

Opening Sunday: The Moon: "Houston, Tranquility Base Here. The Eagle Has Landed"

From: The Museum System (TMS) Users [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Chad Petrovay
Sent: Friday, October 09, 2009 4:32 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Accession Method

How do you handle Accession Method when an object is purchased by the institution with funds from a donor. Is this considered a Gift, a Purchase, or do you have some other designation for it?

Many thanks,

Blog: www.petrovay.com/tmsblog