This is an auto-reply from the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Thank you for your request for information under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) 2000. We will process your request under the terms
of the FOIA and you will receive a response within 20 working days.
Details of how we will process your request are available on our website
at: [1]https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/reports-strat...

Victoria and Albert Museum

Cromwell Road

South Kensington

London SW7 2RL

Creativity. It’s what makes us. [2]Watch our short film

[3]Fashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear | Until 6 November 2022 |
V&A South Kensington
[4]Beatrix Potter | Until 8 January 2023 | V&A South Kensington
[5]Africa Fashion | Until 16 April 2023 | V&A South Kensington

[6]vam.ac.uk

The world's leading museum of art, design and performance

This message is intended solely for the use of the individual or
organisation to whom it is addressed. It may contain privileged or
confidential information.
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Victoria and Albert Museum or its affiliates.
The Victoria and Albert Museum accepts no responsibility for loss or
damage arising from its use, including damage from virus. Victoria and
Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL, Tel: 0207 942 2000

References

Visible links
1. https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/reports-strat...
2. https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/creativity-it...
3. https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/fashio...
4. https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/beatri...
5. https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/africa...
6. file:///tmp/vam.ac.uk

Dear Flo Marks,

Thank you for your information request.

The attached document ‘V&A in China’ includes details of activities which
the V&A engaged in during the period in question, including exhibitions,
based on relationships with China. Since 2008, we have also participated
in the J S Lee Memorial Fellowship Programme of the Bei Shan Tang
Foundation: [1]https://www.jsleefellowship.org/en/about...

The V&A currently has one relevant loan from Hong Kong:
[2]https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1364...
which began in 2016. The identity of the lender is not being disclosed as
we consider it to be exempt under section 41 of the Freedom of Information
Act (information provided in confidence), with the public interest in
maintaining confidentiality in this case outweighing the public interest
in disclosing the information.

Also attached is a list of Chinese companies with whom the V&A’s Licensing
& Business Development department had licensing and publishing agreements
through the V&A’s trading company, V&A Enterprises Limited, from
2016-2018. There are two tabs – one for Brand Licensing and one for
Publishing. We have not provided revenue or profit information, as this
information is commercial-in-confidence for both V&A Enterprises and its
clients. We have concluded that the information is exempt from release
under section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act (commercial
interests). This exemption is also subject to a public interest test,
which we have examined with the following conclusion: we acknowledge a
public interest in knowing that the V&A's trading company is actively and
efficiently operated, but we do not believe that the public interest
extends to seeing detailed income figures for individual clients. There is
also a clear public interest in V&A Enterprises being able to conduct its
business effectively in a competitive environment, in order to support the
work of the V&A; release of information which would never be available
from competitors in the private sector would clearly undermine the
company’s relationship with its clients and its overall effectiveness.

I hope that this information will be helpful to you. In accordance with
the Freedom of Information Act, the V&A does operate a complaints
procedure and if you are dissatisfied with our response to your request
you may make a complaint, in the first instance to me as the V&A's Freedom
of Information Officer. If your complaint is not handled to your
satisfaction you also have the right to refer the matter to the
Information Commissioner.

Yours sincerely,

Matti Watton (Mr) | Senior Archivist

V&A South Kensington | Cromwell Road | London | SW7 2RL

Creativity. It’s what makes us. [3]Watch our short film

[4]Fashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear | Until 6 November 2022 |
V&A South Kensington
[5]Beatrix Potter | Until 8 January 2023 | V&A South Kensington
[6]Africa Fashion | Until 16 April 2023 | V&A South Kensington

[7]vam.ac.uk

The world's leading museum of art, design and performance

This message is intended solely for the use of the individual or
organisation to whom it is addressed. It may contain privileged or
confidential information.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the originator
immediately. If you are not the intended recipient, you should not use,
copy, alter, or disclose the contents of this message.
All information or opinions expressed in this message and/or any
attachments are those of the author and are not necessarily those of The
Victoria and Albert Museum or its affiliates.
The Victoria and Albert Museum accepts no responsibility for loss or
damage arising from its use, including damage from virus. Victoria and
Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL, Tel: 0207 942 2000

From: Flo Marks <[FOI #894385 email]>
Sent: 06 September 2022 11:23
To: V&A Freedom of Information <[The Victoria and Albert Museum request email]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL] Freedom of Information request - In-direct
Chinese Funding to UK Art Industry

CAUTION: This email originates outside the V&A. Do not click on links or
attachments unless you recognise the sender and are expecting the links or
attachments. If you are unsure, contact the sender to confirm that the
email is genuine.

Dear The Victoria and Albert Museum,

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Please provide all information
held by your institution related to any relationships between your
institution and Chinese entities not based on direct funding active in
2016, 2017 and 2018.

By Chinese entities I am referring to entities owned by the Chinese
government, private companies/institutions based in China or individuals
with Chinese citizenship. By direct funding I mean sponsorships, gifts or
donations to your institution. Rather than direct funding, we are
interested in more indirect relationships, such as any formal agreement
(for example partnership or licensing) or other commercial arrangements
where the institution stands to benefit. If the relationship has
benefitted your institution financially, please explain how much the
relationship has generated in profit. However we are also interested in
relationships that do not immediately generate profit such as agreements
of mutual understanding.

These may include but are not limited to:

- Relationships with state owned development firms for example to work on
joint projects
- Relationships with private Chinese companies.
- Licensing agreements
- Collaborations with museums/galleries based in China such as joint
exhibitions or assisting in the operations of these institutions based in
China.
- Items displayed in your gallery that have been loaned by individuals or
organisations based in China.
- Agreements of mutual understanding or cooperation with entities linked
to the Chinese government

Yours sincerely,

Flo Marks

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References

Visible links
1. https://www.jsleefellowship.org/en/about...
2. https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1364...
3. https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/creativity-it...
4. https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/fashio...
5. https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/beatri...
6. https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/africa...
7. file:///tmp/vam.ac.uk
8. mailto:[FOI #894385 email]
9. mailto:[The Victoria and Albert Museum request email]
10. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/change_re...
11. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...
12. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...
13. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...