Leaders of Britain’s major cultural institutions have come together to launch a new manifesto, Private Giving for the Public Good, opening a nationwide campaign to encourage a culture of giving to the arts and heritage.

The campaign calls for greater support to encourage a culture of giving and wider recognition of the contribution made by cultural philanthropists. Many UK cultural institutions were founded through the contributions of private benefactors who wished to give something back to their communities. The aim is to encourage the philanthropists of the future.

The campaign is being led by the National Museum Directors’ Conference, the Museums, Libraries and Archive Council and Arts Council England with the support of Arts & Business, The Art Fund, The Association of Independent Museums, The Beacon Fellowship, English Heritage, The Group of Large Local Authority Museums, The Museums Association, Museums Galleries Scotland, The National Campaign for the Arts, The National Trust, Northern Ireland Museums Council, Philanthropy UK and The University Museums Group, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Scottish Arts Council and Arts Council of Wales.

The aims of the campaign are:

To provide greater incentives for living donors to make gifts of objects to the cultural sector

To give greater recognition to people who give to the cultural sector

To ensure that all parts of the country benefit from cultural philanthropy

To share knowledge and expertise in this field across the whole arts and heritage sector

http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/pressnews/press_detail.php?browse=recent&id=1127