Increasingly, art and artists are being used as financial tools for charity groups and organizations. Any art that is sold in aid of a charity or where sales benefit a charity can be considered ‘charity art’. Donated artwork is the medium of exchange for financial profit – a product that, by sale, usually at auction to the highest bidder, then becomes the method by which charities raise money for their causes.
Is this a legitimate use of art and the goodwill of artists? Or should we even be asking this question at all? Given the increasing reliance by charity groups on the donation of art works for purchase – usually by wealthy contributors to charitable funds (and usually at vastly reduced cost), it could be argued that this is one financial loophole that could surely be afforded to charity groups. After all, their purpose is to benefit society from their charity’s activities. So there is a greater good. But does this entire process undermine the value of the art? By ‘donating’ in return for an often, valuable work of art, are philanthropists shifting the onus from themselves to the usually struggling artist to make the financial sacrifice that is the basis of all charity?
