U.K. Arts Groups Unite to Encourage Private Funding

LONDON—A report on philanthropy prepared by three British cultural groups has found that the U.K. receives less in charity funding today than in 1992, despite the emergence of 100 new millionaires each day, reports Bloomberg.

The report by the National Museum Directors' Conference, Arts Council England, and the Museums, Libraries, and Archives Council found that of the £9.5 billion ($18.7 billion) individuals gave to charitable causes in 2006, only a "tiny fraction" went to arts and culture.

The groups are launching a "Campaign for Private Giving" to help supplement arts funding provided by the government, noting "there is a limit to what governments can do."

"If our cultural life in the U.K. is to thrive, we need to create a culture of giving," said the report, which gave no totals for giving in the U.K., only percentages and trends.