How to Purchase Artworks

WPA’s Collectors’ Night auction offers a rare opportunity to purchase artwork for your home or office, while directly benefiting artists, as well as WPA, during this critical time. The auction will be held on Artsy, the online sales platform, from May 6 to May 20, 2021.

REGISTER TO BID To place bids on Artsy, the first step is to create an account at artsy.net. You can register to bid several days in advance of the sale opening, or at any point during the sale period. When the auction is open for registration, it will appear in the “Upcoming Auctions” section of this page: artsy.net/auctions. When the auction is live and open for bidding, at 6:30 pm on May 6, it will appear in the “Current Auctions” section.

USING YOUR IPHONE OR IPAD If you would like the convenience of browsing the sale on your iPhone or iPad, you can download the Artsy app from the Artsy website.

BROWSING THE SALE & MAKING INQUIRIES When you see a lot you wish to bid on, you can view more information by clicking the thumbnail. You can also connect with an Artsy specialist by clicking “Ask a Specialist” for any additional questions, or you can contact WPA directly, by calling Peter Nesbett at 202.631.5438 or Alexa Kaye at 617.710.3829

PLACING A BID You can bid in two ways, a) enter a bid that is higher than the existing bid, or b) place a maximum bid and allow the system to bid on your behalf (in predetermined increments) up to your maximum bid amount. Please note that maximum bid amounts are only

executed if there is a competing bidder up to that amount.

PAYMENT The bidder with the highest bid when the sale ends at 6:30 pm on May 20 is the purchaser of the artwork. Note that the Artsy website will not take payment; WPA staff will contact you via email or phone on Friday, May 21 to confirm the artwork(s) you have won and to process payment. You can also arrange payment on your own initiative after the sale ends by calling Alexa Kaye at 617.710.3829.

SALES TAX WPA will charge sales tax on purchases made to all DC residents. Sales tax will also be charged to non-residents picking up artwork from WPA. The sales tax rate is 6%. Buyers requesting sales tax to be waived must provide documentation of tax exemption prior to processing. Regulation 402.3 of the District of Columbia Code provides that the gross receipts for the sale of items acquired by a semi-public or social organization for the purpose of resale at a planned function are subject to the 6% sales tax.

ARTWORK SHIPPING & DELIVERY When WPA staff contacts you for payment, they will ask you to confirm whether you will pick up your artwork at WPA’s office, would like to request local delivery, or would like to request shipping to a non-local address. If you are in the DC area, WPA asks that you please try to pick the artwork up, or we can help you arrange delivery, in DC or within 10 miles of the city, for a flat-fee of $100. If you are not local, WPA can ship your artwork for an additional fee. The shipping fee is noted on the sale page for each lot. Shipping is not calculated by the recipient’s address, but will fall into one of three flat-rate categories depending on the size, weight, and material of the artwork. Shipping or delivery fees must be paid at the time of purchase. Pickup, delivery, and shipping timelines will be communicated at the time of payment, depending on your location and schedule, and how the artwork will be transported. WPA will make every effort to unite you with your artwork within 21 days of receiving payment.

PURCHASING ADDITIONAL ART AFTER THE AUCTION Unsold artwork may be available for purchase through the WPA office for one week after the benefit auction ends. Please call Alexa Kaye at 617.710.3829 for more information.