Gifts of Art

SUPPORT TMA

TMA’s growing collection includes nearly 12,000 works of art which span 3,000 years of history. The museum focuses on acquiring the most relevant examples within its core collecting areas, including Art of the American West, Contemporary Art, Indigenous Art, Latin American Art, and Modern Art. In addition, the museum is the steward of Asian art, Decorative Arts, and European Art.

We appreciate the generosity of donors who wish to make gifts of art. Giving a work of art ensures that your treasured piece(s) will be cared for to the highest standards and displayed for the scholarship and enjoyment by a diversity of audiences for generations to come.

All gifts of art must be evaluated by the Director/CEO along with the museum’s curatorial and collections staff to ensure it is appropriate for the permanent collection and is consistent with the goals and purposes of the museum. Donation offers may be refused if the art does not fit within the museum’s collecting areas, is a duplicate or similar to works already in the collection, or is not of appropriate museum quality. Final acceptance is subject to review and approval by the museum’s Collections Committee.

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Outright Gifts

The museum welcomes outright gifts of art that are in accord with the collection acquisition policies and are approved by the museum’s Collections Committee. Depending on the donor’s circumstances, an outright gift of art, if accepted, may entitle that donor to a current income tax deduction. The museum urges any donor considering a gift of art to consult with his or her tax adviser before making such a gift.

Promised Gifts

A donor who would like to give a work of art, but is not yet ready to part with it, may promise to give the work of art to the museum at a future date. While the museum’s acceptance of a promised gift does not entitle the donor to a current income tax deduction, it provides the assurance that the museum will include the work in its collection whenever the donor chooses to give it. If the gift is made by bequest, this assurance enables the donor to develop an estate plan knowing that the value of the work will not be included in the taxable estate.

If you are interested in gifting works of art, please contact Christine Brindza, TMA’s Senior Curator at cbrindza@tucsonmuseumofart.org, and please include the following information with your inquiry:

Name
Address
Phone number and/or email address
Title of the artwork
Artist’s name
Provenance (history of ownership)
Description of the size and condition
Photographs of the artwork

Formalize Your Gift

Once you and the museum have agreed to proceed with your gift, the museum will prepare gift documentation for your signature. For outright gifts, TMA staff will work with you to arrange to bring the work of art to the museum. After the gift is formally accepted by the museum, you will receive written acknowledgement of your gift. TMA’s curatorial and collections team is available to answer questions about gift documentation, appraisals, and tax deductions.

Curatorial & Collections
(520) 616-2693
curatorial@tucsonmuseumofart.org