The UK 's Department for Digital , Culture , Media and Sport has launched a consultation on a way to prevent owners of significant works of art from selling them abroad if a UK buyer can match the price . The National Gallery, aided by a £19m grant, matched the price, but because the owner had originally paid in US dollars, he said The strengthened powers would introduce a " formal , legally binding " decision in place of the current gentleman 's agreement , include safeguards covering currency fluctuations and would apply only to artworks worth more than £ 100,000 ( $ 126,580 ) . The consultation period closes on 23 February 2019 .
The UK 's Department for Digital , Culture , Media and Sport has launched a consultation on a way to prevent owners of significant works of art from selling them abroad if a UK buyer can match the price . The strengthened powers would introduce a " formal , legally binding " decision in place of the current gentleman 's agreement , include safeguards covering currency fluctuations and would apply only to artworks worth more than £ 100,000 ( $ 126,580 ) . The consultation period closes on 23 February 2019 .