Compliance with guidelines essential
As curators and registrars in most public museums and galleries know, compliance with the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board’s appraisal guidelines is an essential part of the donation process. In one scenario we were involved in, both Appraisal Associates and another appraisal provider were retained to estimate the fair market value of a donated piece of contemporary Canadian artwork. As the possibility existed that the value of the painting could exceed $20,000 — the level at which two independent valuations are required — the institution sought more than one appraisal report.

In fact, the value of the gift came in below $20,000, and only one appraisal was needed. Just prior to the submission deadline the public gallery’s representative indicated that the report issued by Appraisal Associates would be submitted. As the gallery’s representative said, there was “no way on Earth the other appraisal report would make it through the process.” Apparently absent of many of the Review Board’s required elements, the other appraiser’s one page “report” was simply unable to get the job done.