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Department for Culture Media and Sport

international

Our broadcasters, theatres, musicians, artists, performers and filmmakers enjoy the highest international reputations, as do our museums and galleries. These make a major contribution to Britain’s international prestige which is also bolstered by the draw of our sporting heritage.The UK is a major international tourist destination, it has 27 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and in 2012 will host the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

The 2008 McMaster report Supporting Excellence in the Arts underlines  the power of culture to build and sustain international relationships and to transcend barriers. The report takes as its starting point the world-class standing of many of our cultural organisations and points to the need for them to engage internationally to ensure they maintain their relevance and competitive edge.

The DCMS has interests in both European Union and wider international agendas. The most central recent European issue for the UK has been the development of the Lisbon Treaty and its ratification. There are implications for our sectors and it has been our priority to ensure that the Lisbon Treaty reflected UK needs in these sectors; this will remain priority work. We work closely with UKRep to ensure the best possible results for our sectors and the UK. An example is the EU’s Culture Programme which benefits a large number of arts, cultural and heritage organisations in the UK each year. During the development of this programme the DCMS consulted widely with our sectoral bodies and was able properly to represent their interests in the development of the programme.

Beyond the European Union are certain organisations, such as the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the United Nations. The UK is an active member of all these organisations which have and continue to develop programmes that affect the DCMS and our sectors.

DCMS also works with a number of non-governmental international organisations which can be of major influence. In the lead up to 2012 these will increasingly include the International Olympic Committee and the International Parlympic Committee, as well as other international sporting federations such as FIFA who decide on the venue for World Cup Finals. 

Aside from the work in the European Union, other high priority countries for the DCMS and our sectors are Brazil, Russia, India, China and the USA.

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Cultural Diplomacy

DCMS has been working to support the UK’s public diplomacy efforts by developing its policy with regard to cultural diplomacy. The DCMS and our NDPBs have many natural partners who operate abroad, such as the British Council and UKTI. We also work closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).  The cultural sector is highly supportive of DCMS engagement in this area.

Cultural Diplomacy aims to:

• reinforce existing, and build new and sustainable relationships between cultural organisations in the UK and around the world
• use these relationships to develop and maintain a highly skilled and knowledgeable UK cultural sector which is acknowledged as a world leader; and
• use this pre-eminent position to optimise the cultural sector’s international influence and, through this, its impact on public diplomacy.

An example of the practical way in which this is being delivered is through the World Collections Programme.  Led by the British Museum, six leading national collections are developing strategic relationships with their counterparts across the Middle East, Asia and Africa.  DCMS also funds the UK/China : Collections Through Culture programme, which helps cultural organisations in the UK and China build and sustain strong relationships with each other, leading to increased cultural exchanges.  This will underpin the UK’s participation in the 2010 Shanghai Expo. 

Our international work

More information on our work with specific international elements is detailed below:

• 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in London
  In 2012, London will welcome more than 23,000 competitors and officials, not to mention spectators from more than 200 countries – the world's greatest sportsmen and women among them
• Capital of Culture
  Promotes European cultural co-operation and understanding, highlights existing cultural excellence, and encourages cities to develop and innovate in the cultural field. Liverpool was the European Capital of Culture in 2008 and regarded as exemplary.
• Film co-production agreements
  Co-productions can be beneficial to filmmakers because they often qualify for benefits, such as tax relief, in both the UK and the partner country
• Government Art Collection
  Places works of art in major Government buildings in the UK and around the world to promote British art, culture and history
• International policy – arts
  Linking peers between countries and as well as supporting production, performance, publication and exhibition
• International policy - broadcasting
  We promote UK interests in the European Union (EU), the Council of Europe (CoE) and other international fora.  
• International sport - The DCMS has recently published its 'International Sports Strategy'.
• C&binet is a not-for-profit network created by the DCMS which links the international creative and commercial communities to inspire new ideas and opportunities, demonstrate the economic power of creativity and help shape the world’s creative economy.
• The Creative Economy Programme is the first step in the DCMS goal to make the UK the world's creative hub. Visit the Creative Economy Programme  for the latest information on the Programme's work.
• Promoting inward visits of international artists and cultural organisations.  Working closely with the UK Border Agency, Visiting Arts and Arts Council England, we want to ensure UK audiences are able to experience the very best arts and culture from around the world, helping to navigate the new immigration and visa rules as effectively as possible.
• We also oversee policies on the export of important cultural objects and the prevention and prohibition of the illicit trade in cultural property.
  

For more information on our international work, our strategy, the international cultural policy, or how we can help you, contact us through our enquiry form

Last updated September 2009

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