Tate receives millions from Oman for loan

The Sultanate of Oman is giving several million pounds to the Tate as a thank you for the loan of important paintings and advice on improving its museums.

The precise sum has not been specified but will be gratefully received by the gallery.

Like all the national museums, it is having to absorb a 15 per cent budget cut in the current spending round although it is earmarking this money for Tate Modern's proposed £215 million extension.

The gift follows the loan of six key paintings from its collection by artists such as JMW Turner, Thomas Gainsborough, John Constable and George Stubbs to the Sayyid Faisal bin Ali Museum in the Oman capital, Muscat.

The loan, which coincided with a visit by the Queen at the end of last year, is regarded as the first stage in a long-term relationship between the British gallery and Oman's ministry of heritage and culture.

The Tate will also lend other works in future and advise on projects including the country's new national museum which is under construction in the old town of Muscat and is due for completion at the end of this year.

Sir Nicholas Serota, Tate's director, said: "Tate's international strategy is based on the exchange of art and ideas and we are committed to extending our activities in the Middle East.

"We are grateful to the Sultanate of Oman for their interest in and support for our work and hope to continue to work in partnership to support Oman in the development of its art and museum sector, building audiences and, in particular, engaging young people in culture over the coming years."

The gift comes as the gallery has been working hard to cement partnerships overseas, partly to fulfil its mission of promoting British artists around the world.

But a spokesman said it was not a straightforward financial transaction as the Omanis money was a gift. This was not a new model for potential funding, she added.