DONATIONS OF ARTWORK FAQ
DONATIONS
Q. Does the Museum accept Donations of Art?
A. Yes, MOLAA accepts donations of art. Our acquisition focus adheres to MOLAA’s mission of expanding the knowledge of appreciation of modern and contemporary Latin American and Latino art. We do not accept donations that do not meet the criteria, such as craftworks, folk art, archeological objects or artwork belonging to a time period prior to the 20th century.
Any in-kind donation of art by an individual or organization is categorized as a “Gift.” To make a valid gift, there must be a clear intention on the part of the donor to transfer title and possession of the property.
Donations are broken down into the following categories:
1. PROMISED GIFTS - A “Promised Gift” is a legal commitment by a donor to give a work to MOLAA. Promised Gifts must be reviewed and recommended by the Staff Acquisitions Committee, then presented and approved by the Acquisitions and Collections Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The work should be free of restraining intellectual property or title rights, or it should be possible for a satisfactory resolution of any copyright or trademark issues, or other restrictions or conditions, to be effected. If the work is accepted, the donor is required to sign a Deed of Gift. Legally the donor may either retain the work until the gift is complete or allow MOLAA to retain the work in its custody from the time the “Deed of Gift Form” is signed. However, conservation and security concerns of the work may prohibit the donor from maintaining custody of the promised gift. The donor must intend not only to turn the work itself over to MOLAA, but also to relinquish the right of dominion
2. PARTIAL and PROMISED GIFTS - A donor may give part of a work and promise to give the remainder of the work at a later time. This arrangement is referred to as a “Partial and Promised Gift.” The Partial and Promised Gift must be reviewed and recommended by the Staff Acquisitions Committee, then presented and approved by the Board Acquisitions, Collections, and Exhibitions Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. If accepted, it is required that a “Partial and Promised Gift Agreement” be signed by the donor and MOLAA, binding the donor to complete the gift at or before his/her death.
3. UNACCESSIONED GIFTS- Works intended for future sale or exchange may be accepted as “Holdings for the Art Sales and Auction Surplus” are not accessed into the Permanent Collection, but are cared for, stored and cataloged in much the same way.
Q. How do I donate artifacts or documents to MOLAA’s Permanent Collection?
A. Due to the volume of offers that MOLAA receives, it cannot accept donated artifacts or documents unless you first submit a complete Donation Questionnaire Form online. Please use the Questionnaire to transmit a description of your proposed donation. If you are unable to complete the form online, please request that a copy of the Donation Questionnaire form be mailed to you. Please include a photograph and measurements of the object. When submitting information please include your contact information so that we may respond back to you. Please send your completed form via:
Mail to:
Museum of Latin American Art
Attn: Collections Department/ Donations
628 Alamitos Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90802
Or by Email to: Collections@molaa.org
Q. Can I mail or drop off a donation?
A. No, MOLAA cannot accept unsolicited donations through the mail or in person without full authorization in advance from Curatorial staff.
Q. How long does it take for MOLAA to review a proposed donation?
A. The review process is rolling. If your proposed donation is accepted, you will be contacted by the Collections registrar to arrange the donation logistics.
Q. Can MOLAA appraise my donation for its monetary value?
A. No. MOLAA does not provide appraisals of the monetary value of materials proposed for donation or for any other reason. It is the responsibility of the donor to substantiate fair market value with a certified appraiser or auction house.
Q. Can I take a tax deduction for my donation?
A. MOLAA is a 501(c)3. The the fair market value of your donated material may be tax deductible. Gift of Property of $500 or more require the donor to file IRS Form 8283 to claim a tax deduction. Gifts of $5,000 or more also require an independent appraisal, which is the donor’s responsibility to obtain. Please consult your tax advisory regarding the tax deducibility of your donation.
Q. If I donate artifacts or documents to MOLAA, will they be returned to me at my request?
A. No. MOLAA cannot return accessioned collections materials to the donor. Once the Collection Committee accepts your donation for the collection, you will be asked to sign a Deed of Gift, which legally transfers ownership of the materials/object to the Museum.
Q. How can I support the ongoing care of my donation?
A. When the museum accepts a donation for its permanent collection we are making a commitment to care for and use the donation for years to come. We do welcome and encourage monetary gifts in support of the collection care and storage. To make a financial gift please contact MOLAA’s Development department.
EXHIBITION PROPOSALS
Q. Does MOLAA accept proposals from artists who are interested in exhibiting their work?
A. MOLAA does not accept unsolicited artist or exhibition proposals. The museum’s exhibition schedule is planned two to three years in advance. If MOLAA ever has open call for artists or exhibitions, information about those opportunities will be made available on our website.
OTHER
Q. Does the museum purchase artwork for its Permanent Collection?
A. Yes, on occasion. The Curatorial staff reviews the candidates for gift and purchase, and upon approval of President and CEO, sends those candidates to the Board Acquisitions, Collections, and Exhibitions Committee. Finally the list of recommended acquisitions is approved by the full Board of Directors.
Q. Can artifacts and documents be removed from the MOLAA Permanent Collection?
A. The Museum may, with approval from the Board, remove objects and documents from the permanent collection through a process called deaccessioning. Artifacts or documents that are damaged beyond repair, have a condition that puts other parts of the collection at risk, are duplicative of other items in the collection, or are outside the scope of the collection may be considered for deaccessioning. Deaccessioned material may be donated to another museum or cultural or educational organization, destroyed, or sold. Any proceeds from the sale of deaccessioned material are placed in a restricted collection acquisition fund.
Q. Does MOLAA loan works of art from its collection?
A. Possible loans of MOLAA’s collection are available to museums, non-profits, foundations or other institutions and not to the general public. A formal letter proposal must be summited to MOLAA’s President and CEO from the interested institution requesting the works of art. The letter must describe exhibition project, specify the dates of the exhibition, and the term of loan. MOLAA has specific light and environment requirements that the borrower would have to comply with in order to secure a loan.
Q. Does MOLAA accept long-term loans?
A. No. The Museum does not accept long-term loans. The Museum prefers to commit its resources to the storage and preservation of materials in the MOLAA permanent collection.
Q. Does the curatorial department accept internship applications?
A. Yes. Explore our open internships and volunteer programs below.