The DCMS provides funding for the arts in England, sets arts policy and supports arts based initiatives, often in collaboration with other government departments.
Our work in the arts includes:
- Arts Council England: We fund Arts Council England to develop arts in England
- Access to the arts: We work to increase access to the arts, both the numbers of people taking part and those attending arts events
- Arts education: We support the vital and positive role that arts education plays in the UK today
- Arts & communities: DCMS promotes the use of the arts to help individuals, communities and support social policy
- Funding for the arts: DCMS funds arts in England, along with a number of other key organisations
- International arts: We support cultural exchange between the UK and other countries, as well as promoting British arts internationally
- The arts industry: DCMS supports the significant contribution that the arts industry makes to the economy and our society
Supporting national arts companies:
we encourage the national arts companies to pursue excellence, expand access to the arts, link with important initiatives and collaborate with other organisations
The national arts companies include:
Our aims for the arts
The aim of our work is to maximise the contribution from the arts sector to our strategic priorities; Children and Young People; Communities; the Economy; and Delivery.
We also aim to:
- Broaden access for all to a rich and varied artistic and cultural life
- Ensure that the artistic activity we fund aspires to be world class
- Ensure that everyone has the opportunity to develop artistic talent and to achieve excellence in the arts
- Develop the educational potential of all the nation's artistic and cultural resources
- Raise standards of artistic and cultural education and training
- Ensure an adequate skills supply for the arts and cultural sectors
- Reduce the number of those who feel excluded from society, by using the arts
