VAT measures boost museums

Almost 50 university museums and galleries that provide regular free admission to the public will from today be able to reclaim any VAT paid on their running costs.

Today’s widening of the free access policy follows the introduction of free access to national museums for children in 1999, for the over 60s in 2000 and for everyone in 2001.

Culture minister David Lammy said: “It has been a massive success, with visits up by 7.4 million on three years ago. But it is important not to stop here.

“Through this latest extension of the free access policy, museums like the Fitzwilliam in Cambridge, the Ashmolean in Oxford, the Hancock in Newcastle and the Manchester Museum will now also be able to claim VAT refunds, helping them to do more to make our cultural heritage freely available to everyone.”