“In Britain, there are tax benefits when works of art are given to the nation – but the donor has to be dead. This is the acceptance-in-lieu scheme, which gives tax relief on the deceased’s estate. Through Gift Aid it is possible to make gifts of cash, of stocks and shares, and even land while you are still alive, and get both the financial benefits and sense of personal reward from doing so. But this is not the case with objects that would be valuable additions to museums, galleries, libraries and archives.”