Resumen de Fundaciones y coleccionismo: experiencias y tendencias
Diana Catalina Pérez-Bustamante Yábar
Studies on the Economy of Art became especially relevant during the last few decades of the XXth Century when the need to reflect on the supply and demand of art was understood, as well as the integration of that aspect within the new science called Economy of Culture, which refers to the public sector in the measure to which the role of the State is considered to be the foundation of Culture and the private sector is the real economic agent. Art collecting is an economic and cultural choice included within the framework of a series of investment products called tangible goods, made up mainly of works of art. Art collecting has a long tradition and is often the foundation of the artistic collections of the world�s most important museums, along with other provincial and local museums. Foundations, legal non-profit organizations, with their own patrimony and social objectives have become powerful institutions of sponsership and patronship with an emphasis on art collecting. The fusion of art collecting and patronship is a product of our time, favoured by a wide variety of economic and social aspects and by general and tax legislation and, particularly, patronship laws.
The acquisition of works of art is, at the same time, related to profitability: several studies have attempted to compare profitability obtained with other alternative investments, applying modern financial and econometric techniques. Tax systems are another important source of the inclusion of extraordinary works of art in public museums. The most outstanding Spanish foundations carry out an important role in art collections that may be devalued and deserves specific consideration and study.
