Museums and galleries are being encouraged to apply for VAT refunds to support opening free of charge as part of plans to boost visitor numbers and give more people access to arts and culture.
Any museum and gallery open to the public free of charge for 30 hours a week can apply for VAT refund scheme when the scheme reopens for new applications in the autumn. The VAT refund scheme, which has been running since 2001, was last open to new applicants in 2018/19 and is estimated to have refunded up to around £1bn to museums and galleries.
To apply, a museum and gallery must:
be open to the general public for at least 30 hours per week;
offering free entry without prior appointment;
holding collections in a purpose-built building; and
displaying details of free entry and opening hours on the museum website.
Museums and galleries are being encouraged to apply for VAT refunds to support opening free of charge as part of plans to boost visitor numbers and give more people access to arts and culture.
Any museum and gallery open to the public free of charge for 30 hours a week can apply for VAT refund scheme when the scheme reopens for new applications in the autumn. The VAT refund scheme, which has been running since 2001, was last open to new applicants in 2018/19 and is estimated to have refunded up to around £1bn to museums and galleries.
To apply, a museum and gallery must:
be open to the general public for at least 30 hours per week;
offering free entry without prior appointment;
holding collections in a purpose-built building; and
displaying details of free entry and opening hours on the museum website.
