A major tax break from the UK Government has helped make free entry to the V&A at Dundee affordable, its director has revealed.
The VAT refund scheme supports institutions which allow free public access to their collections by letting them reclaim VAT on costs associated with those attractions.
Philip Long told The Courier the inclusion of the city’s waterfront centre-piece in an announcement by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander would make “a substantial difference torunning costs” and confirmed the museum would be free.
He said: “This announcement from the HMRC will help in making the V&A in Dundee more affordable and helps our arguments that getting into the institution should be free.
“The more we can do to manage the running costs, the more we can look to pass that on to customers coming to see the V&A at Dundee.”
Mr Alexander, who visited Glenshee Ski Centre and Dundee and Abertay universities as part of a tour to highlight Scotland’s tourism, creative industries and life sciences sector, said the scheme would provide a massive boost to the local economy when the museum opens in 2017.
Around £60 million of support is provided through the scheme each year to 60 major UK institutions which are responsible for approximately 120 qualifying museums and galleries.
The Liberal Democrat MP said: “We have added V&A Dundee to the list because it needs to be able to offer free entry and have our support with that right from day one.
“(Free entry) is absolutely their plan. The plans for the V&A here are so impressive. It’s something that is not just going to be an asset for Dundee but the UK.
“So I think it is absolutely right that the UK Government should do its bit to help.”
Admitting the public free of charge normally means a museum cannot recover VAT on its purchases.
Embrace Arts, Leicester University’s art centre, will also be added to the scheme.