Advocacy
Fair Market Value for Artists
As of the end of April, twenty-two senators and twenty-six representatives signed on to the "Artist-Museum Partnership Act" (S 548 and HR 1524). The bills would allow artists to deduct the fair market value for self-generated work donated to a nonprofit institution. Currently, an artist, writer, or composer can only deduct the cost of materials to create the work. Passage of this legislation would enable museums, libraries, and archives to solicit original works from artists, writers, and composers, both regional and national, and to help strengthen collections.CAA members can support the bill by faxing letters to their representatives and senators. Go to www.house.gov and www.senate.gov to locate your legislators or call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 to ask for the phone and fax numbers of your representatives. Letters to Congress must be faxed, since postal service can be irregular and e-mails are often ignored or deleted.