Benjamin Cañas

The Central American Registry of Art Foundation, Inc. (“the Foundation or CARA”), a non-profit organization, is the sole certification and appraisal entity for the visual artists of Central America. The Foundation provides a range of services to the Central American artists, their families, legal trustees or their estates (collectively “Artist”).  At the Artist’s direction, CARA provides the mechanism for negotiating and licensing the use of artwork in the global marketplace.  With a member’s permission, CARA can also license the use of artwork as, for example, i-digital reproductions whether for use in catalogues or replicated for museums, galleries or retail sales.  Certificates of Authenticity (COA) serve to document an artwork’s origin and provenance. Art appraisals evaluate artworks, either at current fair market value (FMV), retail replacement value (RRV), or Liquidation Value (LV), depending on the purpose for which the appraisal is sought.  The Internal Revenue Service requires an appraisal for donations of property over a given amount.  Both COAs and appraisals protect the Artists and the authenticity of artwork but they also provide a much desired level of extra assurance, security and certainty to owners and investors. Clients may request COAs and appraisals of artwork. By protecting the authenticity of artwork, CARA provides protection from forgeries; thereby, maintaining the value of artwork.  With the Foundation’s appraisals, a collector is ensured that artwork is evaluated in a consistent manner utilizing the CARA’s commercial resources as art house auctions, gallery sales and catalogue listings.