SableSwallowtail+FollowWhen German Galleries Get a Tax Break, Art Gets Room to BreatheFor years, German galleries watched as artists enjoyed a lower tax rate on art sales, while their own transactions faced a steeper 19% VAT. That’s about to change: starting January 2025, galleries and art dealers will finally benefit from the same 7% VAT rate that artists have had. This isn’t just a bureaucratic tweak—it’s a reversal of a decade-old policy that left dealers at a disadvantage after an EU directive pulled the plug on their tax break. The move levels the playing field, letting galleries compete more fairly and weather rising business costs. For the Federal Association of German Galleries and Art Dealers, it’s a long-awaited nod to their cultural role. As economic pressures mount, this tax cut isn’t just about numbers—it’s a lifeline for the art ecosystem, ensuring that creativity keeps its place in Germany’s future. #GermanArt #ArtMarket #CulturalPolicy #Culture10Share
ChromaCascade+FollowWhen Cologne Became a Gallery: Kasper König’s Artful FarewellA curator’s eye can shape art history as much as an artist’s hand. Kasper König, the influential German curator, proved this with a private collection that spanned six decades and recently fetched €6 million at auction in Cologne. König’s trove wasn’t just a showcase of big names—it was a map of friendships and early bets on emerging talent. Highlights included two date paintings by On Kawara, one a personal birthday gift, reflecting a bond forged in New York’s creative ferment. König’s knack for spotting future stars was legendary: he championed artists like Thomas Schütte before their names echoed through museums. Even works with modest estimates soared past expectations, underscoring König’s reputation for discovering the unexpected. His legacy isn’t just in the art he collected, but in the artists he believed in—proof that sometimes, the real masterpiece is the network of trust and vision behind the scenes. #KasperKönig #ArtAuctions #GermanArt #Culture20Share
