Resource wins in Goodison recommendations

IFACCA/Artshub, 19 January 2004, United Kingdom

Sir Nicholas Goodison’s much-anticipated review on incentives aimed to help museums, galleries and libraries acquire heritage items has been released. Resource : the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries will play a central role if the recommendations in the report are adopted. Sir Nicholas has proposed that Resource becomes a ‘one-stop shop’ for advice and expertise on cultural acquisitions. Resource will also ensure that the tax system can work in favour of heritage – ensuring that items are made publicly accessible and are properly cared for. For the past three years Resource has administered the Acceptance in Lieu (AIL) scheme that has seen items worth over £100 million enter public collections. Building on this experience, the Goodison report has proposed that Resource oversee a radical new scheme that will allow items of cultural significance to be offset against income tax. Sir Nicholas was asked to make recommendations on ways that more items of cultural importance could be made available to the British public at a national, regional and local level. The innovative Renaissance in the Regions programme was fully endorsed by the report with a recommendation that it should be fully implemented as soon as possible. The work has begun, with government funding to 2006, in the North East, South West and West Midlands. Another six regions need to start the process of having their museums transformed into centres of excellence and leaders of museum practice. Resource Chair, Mark Wood, and Chris Batt, Chief Executive have both welcomed the recommendations of the Goodison Report. The full report can be downloaded by following the links on the Treasury web site. Resource will undergo a name change in March and become The Museum, Libraries and Archives Council. For more information, click here

Show latest news, more from January 2004.