Catalogue description Records created or inherited by the Department of National Heritage and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Predecessors

Department of National Heritage (DNH), 1992-1997

The DNH was created in 1992, to amalgamate a number of functions related to the arts, broadcasting, film, sport, architecture and historic sites, royal parks and tourism. The core of the new department was formed of the Office of Arts and Libraries, and additional functions (media, heritage, sport, tourism) were transferred from a number of other government departments. DNH was responsible for funding the Arts Council of Great Britain and other arts bodies, the national museums and galleries in England and the British Library.

DNH had direct responsibility for expenditure on the new British Library building at St Pancras. It was also responsible for the encouragement and development of 'creative industries' within the world of the arts. Other departmental responsibilities included the issue of export licences and policy on works of art, antiques and collector's items; policy on the Acceptance of Works of Art in lieu of Tax Scheme; the Government Art Collection; and government indemnity for the loan of works of art.

DNH also oversaw broadcasting and media policy; regulation and freedom of the press; policy regarding British cinema; policies on sport and recreation, including safety at sports grounds and sponsorship of the Sports Council. Its brief extended to the built heritage, including the Royal Parks Agency and the Historic Royal Palaces Agency. It was also responsible for policy regarding tourism, and the sponsorship of the British Tourist Authority.

Additionally, DNH was required to develop and implement the National Lottery, to supervise the work of the Millennium Commission (and related bodies concerned with the allocation of lottery funds), and to deal with the sponsorship of the National Heritage Memorial Fund.

DNH was re-named the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in 1997, following a change in government.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), from 1997

The DCMS was established in July 1997. Its aim is 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. It is responsible for government policy relating to the arts, sport, the National Lottery, tourism, libraries, museums and galleries, broadcasting, creative industries (including film and music industries), press freedom and regulation, licensing, gambling and the historic environment.

On 3 July 2017 the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) was rebranded to 'Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport', while continuing to be referred to as DCMS in all communications, to reflect the department's increased activity in the digital sector.