How is that for a concept?
In Mexico there is a tax program that allows artists to pay what they owe the State with artwork.
The program is simple—donations are made according to reported sales. If an artist sells between one and five pieces of art in a given year, he or she donates one piece to the federal government. If the artist sells between six and eight pieces, he or she donates two, and so on, with an annual cap of six donations.
So who does pay taxes there?
In a country where 50 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, paying little or no taxes, and another 30 percent earns a living in the informal market, economists have estimated that the tax burden rests on a mere 20 percent of the population.
So what is this "informal market?" Does the IMF know about that when they are investigating money laundering and tax evasion?
This is an interesting story, read it here: http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/04/in-mexico-artists-can-pay-taxes-with-artwork/360519/?utm_source=5.6.14+ENEWS
Comments
We did Old Town in those days and it was amazing for us! What a deal to turn in a piece of work in exchange for a space there. I have no idea how much money they made on the auction, but they would have a real auctioneer, or maybe a celebrity, a politician of neighbor of consequence. It was very cool.
How about artists paying their booth fee with their artwork. Let the shows back up the choices of their jurors.
Old Town used to do that. I never did it, but I'll bet they didn't know how to auction the art to get much more than minimum bids.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100