Project Manager: Museums & Galleries Exhibition Tax Relief

Yorkshire Visual Arts Network is looking for a Project Manager to deliver a programme of sector support to increase uptake of the UK Government’s Museum & Galleries Exhibition Tax Relief scheme, between January and March 2021.

Museum and Gallery Exhibition Tax Relief represents significant potential investment in the sector through providing tax credits against expenditure on production of new in-house or touring exhibitions.

CVAN, with lead partner YVAN, is working hard to open up this investment opportunity for the sector.  The potential of MGETR for the visual arts and heritage sector cannot be underestimated. Our ongoing research and sector support programme demonstrates the benefits of MGETR for eligible organisations as a source of unrestricted funds to support core administrative functions, commission new work, support residencies, or underwrite risk in artistic and curatorial practice.

MGETR was added to the suite of Creative Industry Tax Reliefs (CITR) by the UK Government in April 2017, with confirmed payments by October 2019 of £10M for 550 exhibitions in 2017/18 and £4M for 300 exhibitions in 2018/19. The opportunity to reclaim expenditure on curatorial activity has had lower than expected rates of adoption to date, and successful claims have mainly been by larger institutions. The legislation introducing MGETR included a ‘sunset clause’ through which the merits of the scheme will be reviewed in March 2021, before retention or repeal from April 2022.

Working closely with HMRC, Arts Council England and over 60 arts organisations across the UK, YVAN conducted a Pilot Action Research Project from February 2019 to July 20 to scope the impact of MGETR on arts organisations and the sector. Initially YVAN targeted small to medium sized arts and heritage organisations across the Greater North who were commonly not applying, but incrementally expanded support nationally through targeted online workshops and webinar series.

This Project revealed a range of significant issues that demonstrated the benefits of this investment for organisations receiving monies in that they are unrestricted in how they can be spent. It also revealed issues that prevent uptake for many organisations in how they meet MGETR eligibility criteria, and organisation’s resources and support to make ready a claim.

CVAN/YVAN is part of a cohesive partnership with Museums and Galleries networks and membership organisations including Plus Tate, National Museums Directors Group and The Crafts Council to present a robust case for the retention of MGETR in its ‘sunset’ review with advocacy for its uplift and change. This request is also critical as an essential part of a Co-Vid emergency funding package.

The Pilot MGETR Project developed:

• sector support and promotion of MGETR to incentivise greater numbers of eligible organisations into readiness and adoption
• tailored workshop programme that encouraged sector-led peer support and knowledge share
• national online and webinar tutorial session including active participation of HMRC’s CITR with over 85 participant organisations
• sharable resources including organisation case studies with tips, hints and advice; FAQ sheet on organisational and activity eligibility; and reporting templates
• acted as a trigger and ‘call to arms’ for its retention in the face of Treasury’s sunset clause
• produced recommendations for changes to MGETR to extend the range of eligible organisations and eligible activity.

The programme provided granular research and survey material of the tax scheme’s impact.

For the full brief visit: http://www.yvan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/YVAN-MGETR-Project-Manager.pdf