How to Participate

MassArt is proud to support student scholarships and individual auction artists through our 2023 MassArt Auction events. Please see the instructions below to participate.

 REGISTER & Bid now ON BIDSQUARE

GETTING STARTED

We encourage all MassArt Auction guests to register on Bidsquare and re-familiarize yourselves with the platform by visiting bidsquare.com/user/register. This will allow you to be ready to submit bids when the Auction officially opens for bidding on Monday, March 20th at 12:00pm EST via MassArtauction.org/bid.

Once you register, Bidsquare will be notified and will approve you for bidding or request additional information to complete your registration via email. If you created an account on Bidsquare for previous MassArt Auctions your log-in credentials should still be valid, but we recommend that you double check them to make sure. Registering a few days in advance will ensure you will be approved to bid in time for the Auction. Good news: you only have to register once this year! Your registration for any one 2023 Auction events on Bidsquare will be automatically transferred to both Auctions— making it easier than ever to get started.

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PREVIEW the artwork

OPENING RECEPTION

On Wednesday, March 22nd, we plan to host an Opening Reception celebration for all participating Auction Artists, Gallery Partners, and Sponsors from 6:30pm - 8:30pm in MassArt's Design and Media Center. 

PUBLIC PREVIEW DAYS

All featured Auction artwork from both the Live and Silent Auctions will be on view for a public preview period running March 20th—March 30th. All visitors will be required to make an appointment ahead of time. By registering for an apppointment, visitors are confirming that they agree to MassArt's visitor policy and all COVID-19 protocols when visiting the MassArt campus, and that they will cancel their visit if they begin to exhibit any signs or symptoms of COVID-19. 

Artwork viewing visits can be scheduled for the following days and times:

• Mondays & Tuesdays: 3pm - 7pm
• Thursdays & Friday: 10am - 2pm
• Saturday & Sunday: 2pm - 6pm

To schedule an appointment, please complete the 2023 MassArt Auction Public Preview Appointment form below. Questions? Please contact us at auction@massart.edu or by phone at 617.879.7014.

Register for a Public Preview Appointment 

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BID on Auction artwork

The four Silent Auction sections outlined in the catalog will all be featured in one timed online auction starting Monday, March 20th at 12:00pm EST through Sunday, April 2nd at 12:00pm EST via massartauction.org/bid. 

What Is a Timed Auction?

A timed auction is automated, and takes place solely online. The bidding for each lot is opened at a predetermined level at a set time and stays open over an extended period. A bidder’s identity is always kept confidential during the auction. In this timed auction, bidding will begin at NOON EST on Monday, March 20th, and sales will begin to close incrementally at 12:00 NOON EST on Sunday, April 2, beginning with Lot #100 and running through Lot #498, which represents the end of the auction. 

“BUY NOW!” Feature

We are happy to continue to offer a “BUY NOW!” feature for this year’s Auction! A “Buy Now” option will be available for all Silent Auction lots during the timed online Silent Auction on Bidsquare, beginning on Monday, March 20th at 12:00pm EST via massartauction.org/bid. The “Buy Now” option will be removed at 12:00pm EST on Friday, March 31st (48 hours before the close of the Silent Auction). During this time, any Silent Auction lot may be purchased outright by paying 150% of its stated value. Artwork may be purchased by clicking “Buy Now” on a selected lot on Bidsquare and remitting payment of the issued invoice immediately.

If payment is not received by Friday, March 31st at 12:00pm EST, the buyer will lose claim of the artwork, and it will become available for bidding during the last 48 hours of the Silent Auction.

How Do I Participate? 

• Before March 20, create an account on Bidsquare, if you don't have one already, and register for the 2023 MassArt Auction - Silent Auction via the “Before the Auction” instructions listed above. Note: If you registered for the Live Auction, you do not need to register separately for the Silent Auction.
• Log into your account and find the 2023 MassArt Auction- Silent Auction, starting at 12:00pm EST on March 20.
• At any point during this period of open bidding, a bidder will be able to see the current high bid on each lot. 
• If you would like to place a bid on a piece, you may place a higher bid than the listed starting bid or current high bid at a defined bidding increment. 
• After placing a bid, bidders are automatically informed by email if they are the high bidder, or if they have been outbid by another competing bidder. 
• If you’d prefer, you are able to set a maximum bid on any lot you are interested in. Once you’ve set a maximum bid, Bidsquare will continue to bid on that lot on your behalf up to that stated maximum amount. 
• At any point during the Silent Auction before March 31 at 12:00pm EST, a bidder can click “Buy NOW!” and purchase a lot outright for 150% of value; Invoices for Buy Now purchases will be issued immediately and must be paid by Friday, March 31st at 12:00pm EST or the buyer will lose claim of the artwork and it will become available for bidding during the last 48 hours of the Silent Auction.
• At the end of the defined bidding period, beginning at 12:00pm EST on April 2, the lot is sold to the highest bid offered.

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Attend the Live Auction

We are excited to welcome Auction attendees back to campus for our Live Auction Event on Saturday, April 1st in MassArt’s Design and Media Center. Doors open at 6:30pm and the Live Auction program begins at 8:00pm EST. 

For those guests unable to join us in person, we encourage you to log on to massartauction.org/bid promptly at 8:00pm EST to participate in this year’s Live Auction, which will be livestreamed on Bidsquare and feature Auctioneer Marie Keep, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Bonhams Skinner.

We are thrilled to be bringing the 2023 MassArt Auction back in full force this year, with the ability to provide individual tickets for sale to this year's Live Auction event. If you are interested in purchasing a single ticket to attend, please follow the link below. 

Purchase Tickets

Questions? For more information regarding ticket purchases or tickets for participating Auction artists, contact us at auction@massart.edu.

How Will the 2023 Live Auction Work?

This year’s Live Auction will be hosted in real time and held before an audience of bidders in-person at MassArt’s Design and Media Center and online on Bidsquare. Bidsquare’s platform will allow a bidder to remotely participate in the Live Auction virtually alongside bidders in the room. Bidders participating in the Live Auction online will have their bids automatically received by a clerk present at the Live Auction event, who will place their bid in real time. 

How Do I Participate Virtually? 

• Before April 1, create an account on Bidsquare and register for the 2023 MassArt Auction - Live Auction
• Note: If you registered for the 2023 Silent Auction, you do not need to register separately for the Live Auction.
• Log into your account and find the 2023 MassArt Auction - Live Auction starting at 8pm EST on April 1
• The Auctioneer will begin with the starting bid for Lot 01
• Bidders participating in the Live Virtual Auction can type their bids online through the webpage and will have their bids automatically received by a remote clerk, who will place your bid in real-time
• Bidding will continue until competition for the lot ends. If the highest bid offered meets the minimum price designated by the seller as acceptable, the lot is sold
• The auctioneer will then move on to the next lot

Bidders who are unable to attend the Live Auction can place absentee bids online starting Monday, March 20th at 12:00pm EST, which will be automatically processed by the auction clerk the night of the Live Auction.

Take the 2023 MassArt Live Auction Virtual Tour

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Purchasing Your Artwork

Sales Tax

All artwork purchases are subject to the Massachusetts 6.25% sales tax unless the purchaser possesses a Massachusetts sales tax exemption number. Exemption certificates from other states will be accepted if presented with a business card or on letterhead. Please contact the Fundraising Events team at auction@massart.edu with questions.

Payment

All artwork purchases must be paid for with a credit card via a link in the invoice that buyers will be emailed at the close of the Auction.

Buyer's Premium

A buyer’s premium equal to 12% of the winning bid will be applied to each lot sold and will be paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. This premium helps to offset the administrative costs of running the MassArt Auction in order to ensure the funds raised through artwork sales go directly to student scholarships and academic programming. A buyer’s premium will not be applied to any pledge(s) made during the Live Auction’s Raise Your Paddle fundraising opportunity. Gifts made through Raise Your Paddle are outright donations and are fully tax-deductible as allowed by law.

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Raise Your Paddle

Raise Your Paddle is our annual appeal for outright contributions to our student scholarship fund. Your gift of any amount will help MassArt remain affordable and accessible. We encourage our guests to consider participating in Raise Your Paddle during the Live Auction program or making their gift online by visiting massartauction.org/give.

Raise Your Paddle