We aim to improve the quality of life for all through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries.

You can find out more about how we will achieve this aim on our priorities and targets page.

We are responsible for Government policy on the arts, sport, the National Lottery, tourism, libraries, museums and galleries, broadcasting, creative industries including film and the music industry, press freedom and regulation, licensing, gambling and the historic environment. We are the Department responsible for 2012 Olympic Games & Paralympic Games.
 
We are also responsible for the listing of historic buildings and scheduling of ancient monuments, the export licensing of cultural goods, the management of the Government Art Collection and for the Royal Parks Agency.
 
We have responsibility for humanitarian assistance in the event of a disaster such as the London bombings, as well as the organisation of the annual Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Cenotaph.
 
In May 2005 we broadened our existing links to the creative industries by taking over responsibility for fashion design, advertising and the arts market from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR).

We now also work jointly with BERR on design issues (including sponsorship of  the Design Council) and on relations with the computer games and publishing industries.