Upcoming Auctions

Fundraising Antique Helper Style

September 18, 2012 | view archive

Auctions are a familiar component for most fundraising events. They are usually of the silent variety, consisting of a variety of donated goods and services that are sold to the person who is savvy enough to have written in the final, highest increment before the appointed hour that ends the auction arrives.

This can be good fun, and it can lead to some lively competition between friends and colleagues. But, being the forward thinking auction-minded, benevolent types that we are, we have often wondered what would happen if you turned a traditional fund raiser into an auction event, Antique Helper style,  where, thanks to our ability to host live online auction, the merchandise is offered to a larger, even global audience.

The benefits of redefining benefit auctions in this way are huge. The organization reaches a larger audience, therefore increasing awareness of the cause and potentially growing membership. Better still, by offering an auction to a worldwide audience, the potential to reach the highest possible bid is substantially increased. Add to this the value of instant entertainment—everyone has fun at an Antique Helper-style auction—and you have yourself one ready-made evening of excitement, fun and memorable moments.

Last spring, we were approached by members of the Asian Art Society, an affiliate organization of  the Indianapolis Museum of Art, to raise money for their acquisition fund. The idea was simple: Members would bring donated items to Antique Helper. We would sell the items for each member their consignor check, which they could then donate to the AAS acquisition fund. As an added incentive, we agreed to donate 10% of our commission to the Asian Art Society as well.

This was tremendously fun for all involved. AAS members enjoyed bringing their items and seeing what other members donated, while we loved getting to know some new faces, and in some cases, reconnecting with old acquaintances. In the end, members generated a total of $2,439.02, to be donated to the Museum’s Asian Art Acquisition fund, in addition to our donation of $189.75.

The idea caught on.

This Friday evening, September 21, we are going to get gussied up head to the Indianapolis Museum Art to take part in the Contemporary Art Society’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. Guests will enjoy an evening of fine dining, socializing, music, art auction, and celebrating contemporary art in Indianapolis and the many achievements over the years. Proceeds from the evening will go to the CAS Acquisition Fund.

Laylah Ali
Hairless Jacket
Mixed media on paper
2002.  Estimate: $$6,000-$8,000

A cataloged auction consisting of 11 works of world class contemporary art will be a highlight of the event. Auction artwork has been generously donated by the following artists and galleries: Anila Quayyum Agha, Laylah Ali, Dorothy Stites Alig, Aziz + Cucher, Jeffrey Becom, Kendall Buster, Lucinda Devlin, Adam Ekberg, Sarah Hicks, Emily Kennerk, Arthur Liou, Los Carpinteros, Marco Maggi, Stefana McClure, Brian McCutcheon, Osamu James Nakagawa, Artur Silva, Bret Slater, Scott Stack, Julianne Swartz, Type A, Lauren Zoll, Josée Bienvenu Gallery (New York, Lee Marks Fine Art (Shelbyville, IN), Monique Meloche Gallery (Chicago), Pictura Gallery (Bloomington, IN), Sean Kelly Gallery (New York), and Thomas Robertello Gallery (Chicago).

Los Carpinteros
Free Basketball - The Same
Watercolor on paper
2010. Estimate: $20,000-$25,000

Antique Helper will facilitate this sale, complete with online bidding. This is the ideal forum for an offering of this kind, with auction estimates ranging from $2,500-$3,500 for a work from TypeA up to $20,000-$25,000 for Los Carpinteros work, “Free Basketball, The Same.”  We can’t think of a better way to generate worldwide awareness of the IMA. This institution already has a strong global footprint in the world of museums—we believe that this online auction event will open the doors for a new level of fundraising for the IMA as well as other local organizations.

We are pleased to be a part of this event. Welcome to the brave new world of benefit auctions.