Philanthropy and arts funding

Peter Bazalgette ( The arts need a really big give , 9 July) is making great strides to persuade philanthropists to support opera at ENO . Arts institutions across the country have increasingly had to turn to private donations as the cuts begin to bite. But for institutions based outside London, this task is arguably more difficult. Our own organisations, based in the south-east outside London and supported by the Arts Council , are conscious of the need to diversify our funding sources. We accept there is nothing ignoble in this approach. However, experience suggests that most wealthy private donors have chosen to associate themselves with national arts organisations based in the capital, notwithstanding the excellent artistic contribution that organisations such as ours make. We urgently need a debate that provides tax breaks for charitable giving, but is grounded in the reality of the funding challenges for both large and small arts organisations, even if they are not based in London. David Isaac Chair, Modern Art Oxford John Kampfner Chair, Turner Contemporary Stephen Boyce Chair, Nuffield Theatre, Southampton Geoffrey Taylor Chairman, South Hill Park Trust, Bracknell Tamalie Newbery Chair, Woking Dance Festival Anna McGrail Chair, New Writing South Norman Armstrong Chair, Aspex Visual Arts Trust Jeremy Theophilus Chair, Stour Valley Arts Peter Jones Chair, Arts Way Trust Dai Grifiths Chair, Oxford Contemporary Music Alan Dix Chair, Strange Cargo Arts Company Stephen Munn Chair, Jasmin Vardimon Company Robin Woodhead Chair, Hofesh Shechter Company Iona Price Chair, StopGAP Dance Company Geoffrey Taylor Chairman, South Hill Park Trust, Bracknell Sophy Robinson Chair, Forest Forge Will Cousins Chair, Milton Keynes Theatre and Gallery Company Danby Bloch Chair, Oxford Playhouse • I agree with Peter Bazalgette on philanthropy, but this is not just about big players. Millions of people can make a significant contribution to culture by each contributing a small sum. Art Fund members give from just £33 a year to help buy works of art for museums and galleries, and to make those works available for everyone to experience and enjoy. This year alone, Art Fund members have helped save the Staffordshire hoard , install Antony Gormley's 6 Times in Edinburgh and buy the first Picasso for a Welsh public collection. Anyone with a passion for arts and culture can show their support and combine in force with others to invest in inspirational art. Stephen Deuchar Director, The Art Fund