Beginning in 2016, London’s Design Museum will offer visitors free entry to its permanent collection. The change to the institution’s admission policy is part of the new UK VAT refund scheme that encourages museums and galleries to nix entrance fees. The scheme allows qualifying museums and galleries to claim back value added tax incurred in relation to the collections for which there is free access, the buildings in which they are displayed, and their storage and restoration. The UK’s VAT refund scheme currently supports approximately 120 museums and galleries across the country, including Tate Modern, the National Gallery, and the Victoria & Albert Museum.
The change to the Design Museum’s entry fee will coincide with the institution’s move to its new home in Kensington. The museum will be housed in the former Commonwealth Institute building, which has stood vacant for over a decade.
