Arts groups launch giving manifesto

Fundraising | Gemma Ware | 12 May 2008

A powerful coalition of arts and cultural organisations have joined forces to launch a manifesto calling for the introduction of more tax incentives for donors who make gifts to cultural organisations during their lifetime.

Private Giving for the Public Good calls on the government to extend the existing acceptance in-lieu scheme to include income tax relief on gifts of works of art made during a person’s liftetime, rather than solely on inheritance and capital gains tax after death. It supports calls for the introduction of lifetime legacies, which could allow donors to place their assets in a trust during their lifetime that their chosen charity could benefit from.

The coalition, led by the Arts Council England, the National Museum Directors’ Conference (NMDC) and the Museums, Libraries and Archive Council, has also called for greater recognition to those donors who make gifts to cultural organisations, suggesting a ‘giving day’ be established to celebrate the value of giving to arts organisations. It is also considering a mentoring scheme for fundraisers from large cultural institutions to share their expertise with smaller organisations.

Mark Jones, chair of the NMDC and director of the V & A Museum, said it had become “increasingly anomalous that, as far as museums and galleries are concerned, there is full tax relief for donations of cash or shares, but no tax relief for the gift of works of art”.

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport seemed enthused by the campaign. “We are keen to see more private giving – particularly lifetime giving – to benefit culture in this country,” a spokesman said, but added that any changes would be “entirely a matter for the Treasury”

Who's Who: Gemma Ware

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