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Prized collection unveiled after AGO privately canvassed donors

JAMES BRADSHAW

From Monday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 4:13 PM EST 15/11/08

Prominent collectors agree to each donate a single rare treasure ...Read the full article

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  1. scott thomas from Canada writes: What I find so moving and powerful is the willingness of the Canadian public to finance these donations through the tax deductions given to the "donors".
  2. Andrea Dufferin from Canada writes: Well, seeing as the Federal Government won't give any direct assistance to these galleries, a tax break is the minimum that they can give. I'm sure Mr Harper won't agree with this, as he is more concerned in fleecing Ontario of billions of tax dollars to use buying votes in other provinces, and no doubt feels that the ordinary Joe just doesn't care about Art. Unlikely you have ever parted with anything yourself as a donation to a gallery, so it is easy to sit on the side and take pot shots.
  3. scott thomas from Canada writes: Oh Andrea, stick with the issue rather than calling others names. The point is that tax credits are tranfers of wealth from the poor and middle class to the upper class, no two ways about it. What would be truly "moving and powerful" is to tax the upper class at a higher rate and have them pay for the AGO to collect on behalf of all of us. And also to stop the sanctimonious trickle-down demands for gratitude. Maybe then we won't get stuck with a donation of Joe Fafard cows. Thanks. ever. so. much.
  4. Michael Martyn from Peterborough, Canada writes: Considering that the donors purchased the works at market value, whatever benefit they receive from a tax deduction is going to mean considerably less direct cash to them than if they had re-sold the works at market value or had asked market value from the AGO.

    Nevermind that it's also the easiest way to legally show that you have not gained from parting with the gift and therefore shouldn't also have to pay tax on whatever income you might have received from the sale of the good. In the case of some of these paintings, which would sell at market for several hundred thousand or possibly millions of dollars, that is no small amount.
  5. Antonio San from Canada writes: "Vincent Tovell, who sat on the AGO's board for 20 years, has given Paul Gauguin's Tahitian Girl in Pink Pareu, a rare watercolour transfer from a woodcut to paper that he grew up with. His parents, Harold and Ruth Tovell, bought it in the 1930s. He thinks it was purchased on a trip to Paris, or possibly from a New York art dealer they were friendly with."

    Or perhaps found in a dumpster rue Pigalle...? One has to laugh at this family jewel impeccable certificate of authenticity...
  6. Hung Long from Hong Kong writes: Aesthete Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty was generous enough to promise the jewel of his art collection, "Tiger on Black Velvet."
  7. Cyril Rufus from Toronto, Canada writes: THis is the most stupid and ignorant collection of comments one could imagine from people who essentially support a view of the arts which is considerably lower than that of Stephen Harper. I suggest that all posters on this thread sell their homes for the amount they originally paid for them to the poor.

    Any Volunteers?

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