News

WITH the arts budget severely squeezed in the government spending review, the announcement that The Art Fund will be dramatically expanding their funding programme provided some welcome news for Britain’s museums and public galleries.

THE National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers (NAVA) are holding their annual forum for chattels auctioneers and valuers – or anyone with an interest in the industry – at The Belfry, West Midlands just off the M42 on May 9.

The board appointed to represent the interests of arts and antiques members at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors found itself out in the cold last week following a prolonged dispute with the executive body of the organisation.

THEY may look plain and simple, but this pair of silver wall-hanging candle scones had private and trade bidders clamouring to buy when they came up for sale last week at Colchester auction rooms Reeman Dansie.

HALLMARKS on new items made of precious metal may be scrapped under a Government bid to reduce red tape.

BUDGET proposals to encourage art giving by discounting inheritance tax could actually damage wider philanthropy says a specialist law firm.

Given the disparity between the global ambitions of the RICS as an international regulatory body and the specific requirements of a small group of professional art and antique auctioneers and valuers within its membership, perhaps the present stalemate should come as no surprise.