Five Things I Learned About Collectors
Over the four years that Museum Exchange has been up and running, we have had countless conversations with collectors as they’ve contemplated parting with their cherished artworks. Some common themes have emerged over that period, and I thought it would be worth sharing them here as we begin a new year of donation activity. If you’re a collector new to donating, these considerations might help guide you when choosing between museums. And for museums, these insights might be of use to you when drafting proposals to potential donors.
1. Collectors hate the idea of storage!
Some collectors even abide by a self-imposed policy to only buy or keep as much art as can be displayed in their homes, refusing to put anything in storage. Others allow their enthusiasm to take over and end up spending a significant sum every month on storage for their excess art. But when it comes to donating art to museums, nobody likes the thought that their generous gift will sit in storage. The reality is that museums only show a small fraction of their collection at any given time (typically in the single digits) but that still riles donors who want to feel like their gift is being appreciated by being put on view. The large network of museums participating in Museum Exchange has been a nice antidote to this problem, as we can find museums where these gifts can really make a difference and be shown more regularly. One of the most powerful arguments a museum can make in a proposal is to tell the donor that the work will be exhibited in the near future.
2. Status-seeking isn’t the sole motivation for donating art.
Of course it is a great compliment for a big, well-known museum to demonstrate an interest in a collector’s art and that can certainly sway decisions in the museum’s favor. But we also regularly see collectors choosing more intimate and flexible museums as recipients for their donations, especially when they feel that the curators have real plans for them, whether in their exhibition program or filling gaps in the collection. As noted above, collectors are often more interested in their art going to a museum where it will be shown and used regularly, even if it is a smaller, regional institution. Still others are most interested in seeing that a museum’s audience demographics, board composition, and recent acquisitions align with their own ethics.
Installation view of Myths of the West: Narrating Stories of the Land and People through Wichita Art Collections at Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita State University, 2022. Right: Chaz Guest, The Tenth, 2019. Oil paint and ink on linen, 84 x 192 in. Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita State University, Gift of Ms. Feng Jianhua. Photo: Dimitris Skliris.
3. Collectors like to make a tangible impact with their donations.
As a case in point, we have found that university art museums can have an advantage because of the educational mission of their institutions. Donors love to hear that a museum is introducing students to art, or that the collection is being incorporated into the curricula and used as a teaching tool. Suddenly, a painting that used to hang on the wall of your home can reach someone who did not grow up with art and has the potential to change lives. Of course, non-academic museums can have a similar impact, especially those who have strong educational missions and programs with local school groups.
4. Collectors take the responsibilities of ownership seriously.
After the thrill of a purchase is over, collectors become stewards for the work and with it assume the responsibilities (and costs) for its care. We have been so pleased to see that the majority of the collectors that we work with have followed best practices to safeguard their collections for future generations. Those include using professional art shippers, installers, framers, storage facilities, and insurers to handle and protect their works. Prescient collectors understand that these costs are necessary to ensure the future value and appeal of their works, regardless of whether their intention is to sell, donate, or pass on their collection to their children. One of the perks of donating to a museum is that collectors know that the next custodian will take the same, if not better, care for their treasured works. When bringing a donation into their collection, museums assume all those same carrying costs and so any financial support that donors are able to provide is greatly appreciated, especially towards the cost of shipping and conservation, if needed.
5. Collectors want to connect over art.
The process of buying an artwork to bring into one’s life is not just a simple financial transaction. There is usually an emotional rush that accompanies the discovery of a new artwork and it can become like a family member over the years of living with it. Artworks can carry memories for the collector, whether of a special trip that the work was purchased on, a meeting with the artist, or a conversation had with a friend or loved one in front of it. So when contemplating the next home for a work, collectors like to know that it is going somewhere where it will be fully appreciated and continue to touch people’s lives. There is no better place for that than museums, where works are enjoyed and studied by both the public and museum staff. We have seen some incredible relationships form between collectors and curators over a particular artwork, underscoring the power of art to connect people.
One thing is for certain: collecting art is extremely personal and a multifaceted endeavor. We take great pride in being entrusted to help collectors navigate the difficult decisions involved in parting with their beloved works. And nothing pleases us more than making a great match between collector and museum.
