BAMF

The British Art Market Federation was formed in 1996 to represent the interests of the UK’s large and diverse art and antiques market. Maintaining contacts with government, BAMF’s members range from trade bodies like The Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association and The Antiquities Dealers Association, to The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and auction houses including Sotheby’s, Christie’s  and Bonhams.


Anthony Browne

UK imports process set to become easier

18 December 2023

Importing art and antiques into the UK via the Temporary Admissions (TA) procedure could soon become easier following government plans for a strategic review and simplification of the system.

UK dealer growth

Latest British Art Market report reveals increase in UK dealerships

27 November 2023

Antiques dealerships and art galleries around the UK have grown by more than 31% in a decade, according to a new study.

Brexit

Report reveals Brexit continues to hurt the British art market's cross-border trade

21 November 2023

The British Art Market in 2023 report has revealed that UK global market share declined from 21% in 2016 to 18% in 2022, but it stays in second place.

Obituary: Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville

22 May 2023

It would be hard to overstate Peter Brooke’s contribution to the British art market.

Clare McAndrew of Arts Economics

British art market takes hit from Brexit and VAT, says global report

30 March 2022

The red tape of Brexit and the continued imposition of VAT on art imports is having a material impact on the British art market according to a macro-level analysis of global art commerce.

European Commission

Call for feedback on EU’s cultural goods importation rules

14 April 2021

The art and antiques sector has until April 21 to submit feedback on new rules proposed by the European Union on the import of cultural goods.

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Export licences will go digital in autumn 2021

21 December 2020

Digital export licences will be introduced towards the end of next year in a boost to the UK’s art and antiques sector.

Export licensing unit reopens with digital applications

01 June 2020

The Export Licensing Unit (ELU), which closed under the March lockdown, has reopened with a new temporary procedure.

BAMF working to tackle backlog over export licences

18 May 2020

The art market is lobbying for the reopening of the Export Licensing Unit (ELU) which closed in March.

Auction houses and art and antiques dealers to open premises in June

13 May 2020

A government department has confirmed to ATG that auction houses in England will be able to open to the public in June and conduct home valuations, as long as social distancing and the latest government guidelines are met.

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Anti-money laundering regulation - the art market must begin compliance

10 January 2020

The art market must now comply with the latest anti-money laundering law – despite a lack of clarity around some elements of the regulation.

The European Union in Brussels

Antiques and antiquities trade fear extra red tape from EU bill on cultural objects

21 January 2019

The European Parliament is to vote on a new law this week that would introduce extra red tape for dealers in antiques and antiquities operating within the European Union.

Keep calm on Brexit, say trade associations

03 September 2018

Trade bodies are urging the art and antiques sector not to panic following the announcement that the government is preparing for a ‘no-deal Brexit’.

New culture minister urged to introduce digital export licences

16 July 2018

New culture minister Jeremy Wright, appointed after a Cabinet reshuffle prompted by the resignation of David Davis and Boris Johnson, is being asked to prioritise the introduction of digital export licences for art works in time for Brexit.

Jeremy Wright MP

New culture minister urged to digitise export licences for art works

12 July 2018

New culture minister Jeremy Wright, appointed this week after a Cabinet reshuffle prompted by the resignation of David Davis and Boris Johnson, is being asked to prioritise the introduction of digital export licences for art works in time for Brexit.

Brussells

Proposed EU cultural goods bill ‘unworkable’ say trade bodies

16 April 2018

Book dealers seek change to 250-years-old clause in proposed import licensing law.

Parliament

IVORY BAN – industry leaders react: “We will draw the government’s attention to the ban’s inconsistencies”

03 April 2018

An idea that began life in 2015 with a Tory government manifesto pledge for a total ban on the UK trade in ivory has finally taken shape, though not as draconian as originally pitched and not yet set in legislative stone.

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Axing import VAT is ‘achievable’

26 February 2018

BAMF chairman and new chief executive address LAPADA conference

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Ivory debate - So what exactly does BAMF mean by ‘museum quality’?

29 January 2018

Readers have contacted ATG asking for a definition of ‘museum quality’ – the term used by the British Art Market Federation in regards to those pieces of antique ivory it believes should be exempt from any proposed ban. Here we publish BAMF's exemption explanation as featured in its submission to DEFRA.

BAMF: how exemptions for ivory can work

08 January 2018

The British Art Market Federation (BAMF) has explained how exemptions for antiques could work in practice once the government’s proposed ivory ban comes into effect.

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