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Provide long-lasting support for the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, while enjoying financial benefits for yourself.

Gift Planning Home / What to Give / Gifts of Art

Gifts of Art

The Museum's encyclopedic collection continues to grow, in part, because of the bequests of generous collectors. The Museum welcomes outright and future gifts of art that fit within the institution's collecting priority. All proposed gifts of art to the Museum's collections must be approved in accordance with the provisions of, and procedures set forth in, the Museum's Gift Acceptance and Collections Management Policy.

How to Make a Gift of Art

Gather Information About the Artwork: To properly assess your potential gift of artwork and how it fits into the Museum's collection, the Museum encourages you to include as many details as possible.

    Desired Information Includes:

  • Your name and contact information
  • Title of artwork and artist name
  • Provenance (history of ownership)
  • Physical dimensions and condition

Obtain Photographs of Artwork: Please provide photographs of the front and back of the object, as well as any significant markings or signatures. If possible, sending photographs as a JPEG is preferable.

Contact Us: Please call or email us with information about your potential gift of art.

Gifts of Art FAQ

  • How can I find out if the Museum would be interested in receiving a work of art as a gift?

    • Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, accepts a wide variety of gifts of artwork, and there are many different methods to make a gift of art. To inquire about gifting a work of art, please contact us with information regarding your potential gift and any photographs you can provide. Our staff will respond to let you know the next steps and request additional details, if necessary.

  • How do I learn how much my art is worth? Can you do an appraisal?

    • The staff at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, cannot provide appraisals or valuations of any works of art. We recommend contacting a professional appraisal association or an auction house to find a qualified appraiser.

  • Can the Museum authenticate or evaluate a work of art I own?

    • The Museum is unable to authenticate or evaluate any works of art. We recommend contacting a professional appraisal association or an auction house to find a qualified appraiser.

  • How will the Museum decide whether or not to accept my gift?

    • All proposed gifts of art to the Museum's collections must be recommended by the curatorial staff and approved by the director in accordance with the provisions of, and procedures set forth in, the Museum's Collections Management Policy and By-Laws.

  • What information do I need to provide the Museum about a potential gift?

    • Please provide as much information about the artwork as possible so we can make an informed decision regarding your gift. Important details include the artist, title, provenance, current location, dimensions, physical description, and condition of the artwork.

  • I want to leave the Museum with a gift of art in my will. How do I do that?

    • The Museum welcomes gifts of art the we have agreed to accept through an estate plan or will.

    The official bequest language for Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is: "I, [name] of [city, state, zip], give, devise, and bequeath to Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet Street, Houston, Texas 77005 [description of artwork] for its unrestricted use and purpose."

    For more information about making a planned gift of art, please contact us. Additionally, inquiries may be made by reaching out to the appropriate curatorial department.

  • May I set special restrictions or conditions on my gift?

    • The MFAH prefers that no restrictions be placed on gifts of art, however we understand that certain restrictions and conditions on gifts may be required. The Museum reserves the right to decline or require a modification of proposed restrictions should they impose significant administrative, financial, legal, and/or operational burdens.

  • Can I receive tax benefits for gifting a work of art?

    • Yes, if you make a gift of art to the Museum, you can receive a tax deduction up to the full fair market value of the piece. Please consult your adviser(s) when considering your philanthropic objectives.

  • What kind of art does the Museum accept?

    • Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, accepts a wide variety of objects. The Museum currently houses an encyclopedic collection of art created throughout the world, from antiquity to the present.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about gifts of art, please contact us. We would be happy to assist you and answer any questions that you have.