The Association of Visual Artists has today shared a call on social media to Minister of Culture Jakob-Engel-Schmidt to preserve the ability of companies to deduct purchases of art from tax.
Within the next few days, the parties in the Folketing are expected to make a decision that could have a major impact on visual artists' earning potential. As previously described, the so-called Frigast committee has recommended removing the possibility for companies to deduct the purchase of art from tax. The companies' purchase of new Danish art constitutes a significant share of the total market for visual art, namely 14 percent according to the latest report on the area. If the proposal is implemented, it will therefore result in a significant loss of revenue.
That is why we appeal to the Minister of Culture, who since taking office has introduced reforms and added money to benefit the arts and culture in Denmark. If the scheme is abolished, it will be a disaster for Danish visual arts, because the companies' art purchases make up a large part of the total art market. Visual artists will lose a large part of their income base, and fewer Danes will encounter art in their everyday lives.
Find the calls to the Minister of Culture at LinkedIn, Facebook og Instagram and feel free to share them.
In Berlingske, front person Marie Thams has also written this post: Saving proposals are a bomb under Danish visual arts (behind paywall)
also read Marie Thams' editorial in the latest issue of Fagbladet Billedkunstneren
Click BKF's press release from 21 February
Click Danske Galleries' statement in the Alting on deductions for art purchases: Let the scheme stand
Photo: Nana Reimers