Department for Culture Media and Sport
international arts policy
In January 2008, the Department published Supporting Excellence in the Arts, a review of public subsidy of the arts conducted by Sir Brian McMaster CBE. A number of the recommendations focused on the importance of international touring, collaboration and comparison.
We do this through the British Council and Visiting Arts and via Arts Council England.
Promoting arts overseas
The DCMS advocates and supports the UK's membership of various international organisation. This membership offers the chance to:
- Promote British arts and culture overseas
- Secure national interests in cultural negotiations
- Share experiences and policies on the arts with other countries
By talking to each other about arts issues, governments help to create an environment in which the arts can flourish and develop.
Home Countries
We liaise closely with colleagues in the national administrations of Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland to ensure that we reflect the needs of the whole of the cultural sector.
European and international partners
We also exchange experience with other countries, in particular our principal European partners.
The Council of Europe, UNESCO and the World Bank all support the arts.
Our key message to these international organisations is that the arts and other creative industries should be at the heart of our society.
This can happen though the pursuit of artistic excellence, the encouragement of social inclusion and the use of cultural wealth to create economic opportunities.
Last updated 19 August 2009
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