Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support local art galleries.

The latest awards from the joint DCMS-Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund, announced on 17 March, will provide £4 million of new funding to improve displays, protect collections and make exhibitions more accessible. Over the past 20 years, the Fund has provided more than £48 million to over 400 projects and more than 370 museums and galleries are eligible for it.

The Government has also confirmed an extension to the Museums and Galleries Exhibition Tax Relief for a further two years, until 31 March 2024. The rates have temporarily increased from 20% (for non-touring productions) and 25% (for touring productions) to 45% and 50% respectively. From 1 April 2023, these rates will be reduced to 30% and 35%, and will return to 20% and 25% on 1 April 2024.

Art galleries may also benefit from The Museums and Galleries VAT Refund scheme, known as Section 33A, which allows eligible museums and galleries providing free admission to reclaim VAT.

Our unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund has seen more than £1.5 billion awarded to around 5,000 organisations and sites. Over £100 million has gone to more than 200 museums and galleries across England through the CRF programme. This includes some of the most well-loved and culturally significant organisations within communities across England.