Farron fights for Kendal arts in Westminster

3.00.00pm GMT Thu 27th Mar 2008

Local MP Tim Farron is today writing to Alistair Darling, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in order to try and secure his support to extend gift aid to tickets sold by arts charities. Gift aid is a scheme which allows charities to reclaim the tax on monetary donations, and Tim Farron MP is attempting to extend this to tickets sold by arts charities in order to provide a welcome boost to arts charities both in Westmorland and Lonsdale and nationwide. In particular, Mr Farron singled out the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal for praise, noting the Centre's contribution to both culture and the community. If the Brewery Arts Centre could claim gift aid on its cinema ticket sales, for example, it would make a huge difference.

Speaking today, Tim Farron MP said:

"South Lakeland is a centre for modern and traditional arts, bringing people into our area from across the world. Many of arts bodies providing this offer are operating on a shoestring budget and while, as charities many can receive gift aid for donations made in the normal fashion, it would be a boon for the arts locally if this was extended to ticket sales.

"Venues such as the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal provide a variety of facilities which allow local people to come together to enjoy the arts, providing a focal point for the local community and allowing the good work of local artists to be showcased. Government should do all it can to support them, including providing gift aid for ticket sales."