New Rules for Saving UK Cultural Treasures

December 21 2020

Image of New Rules for Saving UK Cultural Treasures

Picture: The Guardian

Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:

The UK Government has announced new rules to help save cultural treasures for UK Museums.

Owners of culturally significant objects, which are subject to a temporary export ban, will now be subject to a legally binding clause to accept an offer from an institution who matches the sale price. Surprisingly, this was previously only covered by a 'gentleman's agreement' which meant owners could pull out at the last minute if they so desired.

The aborted bid by the National Gallery to save the above portrait by Pontormo in 2017 is quoted as one of the examples where the previous system had failed.

The National Gallery's director Gabriele Finaldi is quoted as saying:

I welcome the new rules that remove the ambiguities that have led to major works of art being lost to the nation. The clarity will be beneficial to museums and vendors alike.

We'll wait and see what consequences these new rules have for future bids.

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