Why do I need to pay artists or musicians? Don't they love their work?

Many artists and musicians do indeed love their work – that's why they chose their particular fields. However, they are also professionals, who have often undergone (and paid for) years of training and practice. They are providing professional goods and services and are entitled to be paid for them, the same as anyone else who provides professional goods and services. Yes, they do it for love, but love can't pay the mortgage or send the kids to college.

How can I get an artist to donate work for my charity auction fundraiser?

The first thing to realize is that artists are constantly asked to donate work to charity. Many of them do so, but few can accommodate the multiple requests they receive from worthy causes. A better tactic is to purchase a piece of art and donate it yourself. Keep in mind that the artist can only deduct the cost of the materials he or she uses – canvas and paint – but you can write off the full value of your purchase. That’s a win-win situation: you get the full charitable deduction, while at the same time supporting both your favorite cause and a local artist.

If you do decide to seek donations, there are a couple of ways to increase your likelihood of success. First, approach artists whose work you have already purchased. An artist, just like any other business owner, is much more likely to help out a customer than a stranger. Second, make an effort to find an artist who already supports your cause. Your time and money are precious, and you want to contribute to groups you know and ideas you believe in. It isn’t surprising that artists feel similarly.

Instead of buying art, why don’t I just offer to hang some artists’ work in my office? It would be great exposure for them.

There’s nothing wrong with the barter system, and many artists do indeed trade artwork for other goods, services, or publicity.

However, the benefit to an artist of hanging unsold work in your offices is probably minimal. Unless you are offering something of actual value – an extremely high traffic area where people are likely to have a substantial amount of time to look at the artwork and read the accompanying literature about the artist that you will display prominently – it’s basically the equivalent of asking someone to decorate your office with valuable art for free. (Would you ask a plumber to fix your office pipes in exchange for a sign in your restroom saying "Plumbing by…"?)

Remember that artists are also businesspeople, and will usually be happy to make special arrangements with you. If a major purchase is out of your budget range, consider a rental or a lease-to-own arrangement with the artist.