The V&A Purchase Grant Fund is to be financed by Arts Council England (ACE) from 2012, but it will compete with other priorities for a slice of ACE’s £46m grant from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
A spokesman for ACE said that funding levels had not yet been decided, but the council is in talks with the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) over the administration of the fund, which it is envisaged will continue to administrate it.
Janet Davies, head of regional liaison and the Purchase Grant Fund at the V&A, said: “Future arrangements are subject to the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) handover negotiations, since provision of the Purchase Grant Fund budget is one of the existing MLA functions.
“The size of the grants budget will largely depend on the source, as well as the availability of funds.
“Arrangements, timing and budget are dependent on these DCMS and MLA/ACE negotiations, which I understand are unlikely to be clarified for months. We hope the management of the fund will remain with the V&A, as it is a key part of our UK activity.”
The budget for the Purchase Grant Fund this year is £900,000, compared with £1.5m in 1995.
Museums Association director Mark Taylor said: “It is a modest amount of money, but one of the few ways in which museums can enhance their collections.”
The future of the fund was raised last month in the House of Lords by Lord Howarth of Newport, who asked for assurances that ministers would continue to provide funding across England and Wales, and challenge philanthropic donors to double up the fund.
The fund has been administered by the V&A, which finances its management, since 1881. According to the V&A, it is always oversubscribed.
ACE is also reviewing the budgets beyond 2012 for Culture 24 and the Collections Trust.
A spokesman for ACE said that funding levels had not yet been decided, but the council is in talks with the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) over the administration of the fund, which it is envisaged will continue to administrate it.
Janet Davies, head of regional liaison and the Purchase Grant Fund at the V&A, said: “Future arrangements are subject to the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) handover negotiations, since provision of the Purchase Grant Fund budget is one of the existing MLA functions.
“The size of the grants budget will largely depend on the source, as well as the availability of funds.
“Arrangements, timing and budget are dependent on these DCMS and MLA/ACE negotiations, which I understand are unlikely to be clarified for months. We hope the management of the fund will remain with the V&A, as it is a key part of our UK activity.”
The budget for the Purchase Grant Fund this year is £900,000, compared with £1.5m in 1995.
Museums Association director Mark Taylor said: “It is a modest amount of money, but one of the few ways in which museums can enhance their collections.”
The future of the fund was raised last month in the House of Lords by Lord Howarth of Newport, who asked for assurances that ministers would continue to provide funding across England and Wales, and challenge philanthropic donors to double up the fund.
The fund has been administered by the V&A, which finances its management, since 1881. According to the V&A, it is always oversubscribed.
ACE is also reviewing the budgets beyond 2012 for Culture 24 and the Collections Trust.
