Frequently Asked Questions
- What is 'accreditation'?
- What other bodies could we approach for funding?
- What is an ‘independent valuation’?
- What information is required for applications towards works that have been declared Treasure?
- What is a ‘museum discount’?
- What is ‘tax remission’?
- What information is required on provenance?
What is 'accreditation'?
The Art Fund requires all
applicants to be either provisionally or fully accredited with the Museums,
Libraries and Archives Council (MLA). The MLA's Museum
Accreditation Scheme sets nationally agreed standards for UK museums. To
qualify, museums must meet clear basic requirements on how they care for and
document their collections, how they are governed and managed, and on the
information and services they offer to their users.
What other bodies could we approach for
funding?
There are a number of other bodies who support
acquisitions, and we expect applicants to explore the possibility of applying to
all appropriate sources of funding for which they may be eligible before
applying to The Art Fund.
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) will offer assistance towards projects that conserve, enhance and increase access to and understanding of the nation and its communities' heritage. This funding can include support for an acquisition as part of a wider project. The HLF has two funding schemes which are particularly appropriate sources of acquisitions funding: Your Heritage, for grants of up to £50,000, and Heritage Grants, for grants of £50,000 and above. The HLF works to its own decision-making timetable, and we would always recommend applicants call their regional HLF Case Officer to discuss potential applications in the first instance. To find your local office, visit the website.
The National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) is able to act quickly as a fund of last resort to save British heritage at risk. If you think a potential acquisition may qualify for assistance from the NHMF, please visit the website for more information and contact details.
The MLA/V&A Purchase Grant Fund gives support, advice and grants for acquisitions of objects relating to the arts, literature and history to regional museums, record repositories and specialist libraries in England and Wales
The National Fund for Acquisitions offers support for acquisitions to museums, galleries, libraries, archives and record offices in Scotland. You can apply to the NFA for assistance with a purchase if you meet the fund guidelines.The Northern Ireland Museums Council has established a Specimen Purchase Fund through which museums may seek assistance towards acquiring artefacts for their collections.
The Headley Museums Treasure Acquisitions Scheme has been established by the Headley Trust, one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts. The Headley Scheme helps institutions acquire artefacts classified as Treasure under the Treasure Act 1996 and runs alongside and in close collaboration with the MLA/V&A Purchase Grant Fund. If you are considering applying to the Headley Trust, we recommend you first contact the MLA/V&A Purchase Grant Fund to discuss the acquisition.
The Beecroft Bequest, administered through the Museums Association
(MA) can assist smaller museums and galleries with the purchase of pictures and
works of art, furniture and textiles not later than the 18th century in
date.
In addition, there may well be local or specialist charitable bodies
that may be able to help in specific instances.
Local libraries will also hold directories of grant making trusts and foundations. Alternatively, the Directory of Social Change may be able to advise you further.
What is an ‘independent
valuation’?
We require all applicants to provide us with an
independent valuation of the object under consideration. It is crucial that
whoever gives the valuation is not told of the selling price set by the vendor
but instead, gives their own. Independent advice should be sought from a
specialist in the field who is familiar with market values (e.g. an auction
house or dealer). If you have difficulty in identifying a suitable person to
provide an independent valuation, we suggest you contact the relevant department
in a national museum.
What information is required for applications
towards works that have been declared Treasure?
For applications for
objects classified as Treasure under the Treasure Act 1996, The Art Fund
requires applicants to submit:
- Copy of the Coroner’s report
- Provisional valuations (and names of valuers) submitted to the Treasure Valuation Committee
- Final valuation set by the Treasure Valuation Committee
In addition, applicants may be asked to provide:
- Further information about the find site, including any archaeological reports if applicable.
- The name of the finder and landowner.
Please contact The Department of Portable Antiquities and Treasure at the British Museum for this information if you do not already have a copy within your files.
What is a ‘museum
discount’?
When purchasing from a dealer or commercial gallery, The
Art Fund asks that applicants try to negotiate a museum discount. Some sellers
will give museums a discount on the selling price, often around 10% of the
original price, so do not be afraid to ask!
Applicants may also find it useful to consult the Museums Association's checklist 'Buying in the Market'.
What is ‘tax remission’?
The
Art Fund expects all applicants who wish to acquire an object from a private, UK
based vendor, to explore the possibility of tax remission. If an object
qualifies for tax remission then the cost of the work to the applicant may be
significantly reduced. For further advice, call the Acquisitions Export and Loans Unit at the MLA.
What information is required on
provenance?
The Art Fund expects applicants to take full
responsibility for ensuring that any object that they wish to acquire with The
Art Fund's help, whether by grant, gift or bequest, is legally and ethically
sound.
We require applicants to submit a full account of the object's previous history with the application, including, where appropriate, evidence that it was legally exported from its country of origin.
In all cases the Board requires the applicant to disclose the name of the vendor and in the case of a sale by a private trust the names of Trustees and beneficiaries of the sale must also be disclosed. If necessary this information can be released confidentially to The Art Fund for Trustees only.
We expect applicants to fully comply with best practise in this area, and, should the provenance be incomplete, to run checks on both the object and the vendor on the relevant databases, including the Art Loss Register and the Metropolitan Police's LSAD database. Please note that The Art Fund cannot contribute towards any costs incurred through running such checks.
Applicants are also advised to read the DCMS publication Combating Illicit Trade: Due-Diligence Guidelines for Museums, Libraries and Archives on Collecting and Borrowing Cultural Material, 2005.
A further resource that applicant may find helpful is the MLA's Cultural Property website.
