NMDC responds to consultation on gifts of objects to the nation 7 Oct 2011
The NMDC has submitted a response to the Government consultation on a new scheme to encourage the giving of pre-eminent objects and works of art to the Nation. NMDC warmly welcomes proposals to increase cultural philanthropy in this way. The proposed scheme will, if it is well designed, crucially help to support the formation of long-term and life-time relationships between individual and corporate donors and cultural organisations. The NMDC response outlines a series of key issues that should be considered to ensure that the proposed scheme achieves its full potential. These include proposals for a definite £20m annual cap on the value of gifts, and sharing this cap with the already successful (and over-subscribed) Acceptance in Lieu (AiL) scheme, which may have the unfortunate effect of compromising the potential of both schemes rather than maximising the opportunity to increase giving. The response also outlines some of the practical issues which arise from donating works to the Nation rather than to a specific institution, and illustrates the need for greater clarification on this aspect of the proposals.