LONDON.- The Arts Council today published its 2018/19 Cultural Gifts Scheme and Acceptance in Lieu Annual Report. 46 cases worth £58.6 million were accepted for the nation under the government’s Cultural Gifts and Acceptance in Lieu schemes. This is the highest figure since 2013 (the year of the Cultural Gifts Scheme’s inception), and over double the value of items accepted in the last financial year.

For the first time the total tax settlement value exceeded £30million, making use of the increased allowance established in 2014. Paintings, sculptures, ceramics, prints, furniture, archives, manuscripts – and even a 17th-century manor house – have been accepted and allocated to institutions throughout the UK, with items allocated outside London accounting for 86% of the total tax settled.

A record number of items were given through the Cultural Gifts Scheme, which enables UK taxpayers to donate important works to the nation receiving a tax reduction based on a set percentage of the value of the object they are donating.
Highlights include:

• A rare collection of Islamic ceramics from Gurgan, a city near the Caspian Sea destroyed by the Mongols in 1220-21.

• A platinum and diamond necklace, in its original case, made in the early 20th century by pre-eminent jewellery designer Cartier.

• Wretched War, a bronze sculpture depicting a pregnant woman by Damien Hirst, and 73 portraits by the same artist of his former business manager Frank Dunphy, drawn on Wolseley restaurant placemats during meetings.

Highlights from the Acceptance in Lieu scheme, which allows UK taxpayers to settle Inheritance Tax or one of its earlier forms by offering important works to the nation, include:

• A striking oil painting by Bernardo Bellotto depicting a bustling Venetian scene on Ascension Day.

• Six important archives including those of two key Labour politicians, Tony Benn and Clement Attlee; performance artist and comedian Bruce Lacey; and Hugh Montague Trenchard, a founding figure in the history of the RAF.

• A pair of George III pier tables and glasses by Thomas Chippendale, displayed in situ at Harewood House, in the room for which they were originally conceived.

• Two leaves from Charles Darwin’s autograph manuscript of On the Origin of the Species, which differ from the final printed book.

• Three old master paintings, by Roelandt Savery, Michele Marischi and Francesco Guardi, and three works on paper, by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo and Peter De Wint.

Both schemes are administered by the Arts Council on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Nicky Morgan, Culture Secretary, said: “Hundreds of objects and works of art of national importance are seen and enjoyed by the public every day thanks to the Acceptance in Lieu and Cultural Gifts Schemes. By giving to public collections, donors are not only ensuring that their items will be appreciated for generations but also giving smaller and regional institutions across the UK the chance to receive and display important works.”

Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, said: “This past year has been record-breaking for the Acceptance in Lieu and Cultural Gifts Schemes, two hugely important ways for exceptional works of art, objects, manuscripts and archives to enter public collections throughout the country – making a valuable contribution to local communities and enjoyed by millions. As ever, I am very grateful for the time and efforts of the Acceptance in Lieu panel and its Chair, Edward Harley, without whom this would not be possible.”

Edward Harley, Chair, Acceptance in Lieu Panel, said: “The Acceptance in Lieu and Cultural Gifts Schemes are vital mechanisms through which exceptional items enter public collections. It is heartening to see that the list of first time allocatees continues to grow and that it has been a bumper year for high value items going outside the capital.”