A wide range of historic and artistic treasures including some important contents of five houses owned by the National Trust; major works by JMW Turner, Edward Burne-Jones, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and several important historical documents have been saved for the nation, it was announced today.
Over £15m plus worth of paintings, furniture and archives came into public ownership this year through the Acceptance in Lieu scheme, administered by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), on behalf of the government. The scheme enables items deemed to be of historical or artistic importance to be given in place of inheritance tax.
MLA Chair Andrew Motion said:
'The Acceptance in Lieu scheme is a vivid and important means of enhancing collections across the UK. The benefits are substantial in terms of connoisseurship, scholarship and access. The many notable items acquired for the nation help to enrich the cultural experiences enjoyed by the public'.
'Alongside other partners – including the Arts Council and the National Museum Directors’ Conference – the MLA encourages and celebrates the habit and joy of private giving for the public good. We urge people to consider matching the example of philanthropists whose names are reflected in many great collections, libraries, galleries and places of learning. We believe this to be an important part of developing the heritage and wealth of our cultural life at any time, but we see it as especially crucial now, in the midst of economic recession. We are working with government to develop further measures that enable tax-efficient giving, including an extension of the Acceptance in Lieu scheme to cover lifetime philanthropy and encourage gifts of cultural value from living donors.'
Culture Minister Barbara Follett said: 'This report just goes to show how many treasures have been saved for the British public as a result of the Acceptance in Lieu scheme. Whether it be furniture, a painting or a historical document, these aspects of our heritage have been preserved for the nation and will give many visitors pleasure and insight into their history, which would otherwise have been lost.'
This year 32 separate transfers to the nation were completed, with a value of £15.2m, writing off £10.3m of tax. The material has been allocated across the UK from the Isle of Wight to Edinburgh and ranges from an Iranian gold enamelled bowl and saucer to one of Nelson’s undershirts.
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