NMDC response to Jeremy Hunt speech

25 June 2008

CULTURAL SECTOR WELCOMES SUPPORT FOR PHILANTHROPIC GIVING

Leaders of Britain's major cultural institutions today welcomed support for philanthropic giving to UK culture as outlined in a keynote speech on Conservative Arts Policy by the Shadow Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt MP.

The speech outlined plans to:

• Simplify and strengthen gift aid.
• Remove the bureaucracy that prevents cultural organisations from recognising and acknowledging the generosity of their benefactors.
• Explore how philanthropy can be rewarded through the honours system.
• Look at what can be done to encourage lifetime giving.

In April, leaders of Britain's major cultural institutions joined together to launch a new manifesto, Private Giving for the Public Good, opening a nationwide campaign to encourage philanthropy. The campaign called for greater support to encourage a culture of giving and for wider recognition of the contribution made by cultural philanthropists.