City Withholds Money from Unlicensed Artists

January 19, 2012

The City of Paducah has withheld payment in the total amount of $1,875 for artwork sold by artists who hadn’t obtained a Paducah, KY business license before selling their wares at The Affordable Art Show.

“Anyone that buys and sells things as part of a show needs a business license,” said Stephanie Millay of the city finance department. “It’s a one-page application with little to no wait time.”

Paducah Renaissance Alliance, who organized the art show, did not inform participants of their obligation to obtain a local business license. Maurie McGarvey, PRA board chairwoman, claims that PRA expected art professionals to be knowledgeable of city laws and to have obtained a city business license on their own.

Paducah Sun reports that “in the past, PRA applied for a trade show permit, which blanketed all of the artists at the Affordable Art Show. McGarvey said that the board made no decision on a trade show license, and that it is impossible to apply for a license retroactively.”

The 20 participants who were fortunate enough to have made a sale must now apply for a Paducah business license in order to receive payment for their artwork.

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