Tag: Department for Culture and Media

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 14 April 2026.

130 cultural venues, museums and libraries are set to receive a share of almost £130 million to protect them for present and future generations.

• Investment forms part of the Arts Everywhere Fund, a bumper £1.5 billion package to support cultural infrastructure projects
• Organisations such as The Lowry, Stratford East, The Black Country Living Museum and Derbyshire Libraries are amongst 130 receiving a needed cash boost

130 cultural venues, museums and libraries are set to benefit from a £127.8 million funding boost, helping to ensure that everyone can access arts and culture in the places they call home.

Venues ranging from The Lowry Centre in Salford, The Hexagon in Reading and the Royal Shakespeare Company in Warwickshire will receive a much needed cash boost to help open up access to facilities, complete much needed building projects and upgrade technology on site.

The 130 organisations receiving funding today mark the first projects receiving cash from the government’s Arts Everywhere Fund. As the cost of living continues to affect families across Britain, funding for these venues will help provide welcoming, affordable spaces for communities to visit, come together and celebrate what makes their local area special.

Earlier this year, the Culture Secretary committed up to £1.5 billion to the cultural sector over this parliament, with the Arts Everywhere Fund aiming to save more than 1,000 cherished arts venues, museums, libraries and heritage buildings across England.

Today’s £127.8 million which is administered and delivered by Arts Council England on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is made up of three funds:

• The Creative Foundations Fund (CFF) has allocated £96 million to 74 arts and cultural venues to help theatres, performing arts venues, galleries and grassroots music venues address urgent infrastructure needs. In this round, organisations such as The Lowry Centre Trust in Salford, which has been awarded £8.5 million to upgrade critical infrastructure. This funding will replace escalators with new lifts, providing step-free access to galleries and opening up more of the building. Visitors will benefit from improved access to galleries, theatres, family and conference spaces, along with enhanced café and retail facilities, creating a more inclusive and welcoming experience. Theatre Royal Stratford East in London has also secured £1,750,000 funding to upgrade its building and essential systems, ensuring the theatre remains safe, accessible and welcoming for local people.
• The Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND) has allocated a share of £25.5 million to support 28 museums to undertake vital infrastructure works, and improve the visitor experience. In this round, organisations such as Black Country Living Museum in Dudley have been awarded £454,159 to safeguard key historic buildings, ensuring they remain safe and open for visitors while preserving the region’s unique heritage. In total the fund has supported 150 museums over the past four years.
• The Libraries Improvement Fund (LIF) has allocated a share of £6.3 million to 28 library services to help upgrade buildings and technology to better meet the needs of the community. The fund has already supported 95 projects across England over five years and this round will support organisations such as Derbyshire Libraries which will use £440,000 to refurbish three sites to create more welcoming, flexible spaces for community use, including bookable rooms and areas for local activities. It is hoped that these improvements will encourage more visits from children and families, support community engagement and ensure the libraries remain sustainable and well-used for years to come.

Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy said:

Across the country, people take real pride in where they come from. Our local arts, museums and libraries are a big part of that, telling our stories, reflecting who we are, and bringing communities together.

That’s why our Arts Everywhere Fund matters. We’re backing the places people care about most, with support for 130 venues across the country announced today.

Arts and culture aren’t a luxury for a privileged few. They are for everyone, everywhere. They bring people together, open doors, and support our shared sense of belonging. That’s the role they can play as we build a stronger future for our country.

Arts Council England Chair Sir Nicholas Serota said:

Arts organisations, museums and libraries are the beating heart of our communities.

After significant financial pressures in recent years, this vital investment will help organisations to secure futures where they thrive and not just survive.

We look forward to seeing these cultural spaces flourish as they continue to provide access to excellent art and culture for everyone, everywhere, for many years to come.

Other examples of funded projects include:

Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival (CFF) in East Sussex will receive £468,701 in funding which  will modernise the concert hall’s systems, improving accessibility, sustainability, and improve the experience for the audience and artists. This safeguards a vital cultural hub, supporting year-round events, opportunities for young people and community engagement across Brighton & Hove and Sussex. Newstead Abbey (MEND), in Nottinghamshire, is an internationally significant former home of the poet Lord Byron, will receive £1,550,747 for essential roof and drainage repairs. This investment will protect the historic building and its nationally important collections from persistent leaks, ensuring the site remains open for future generations to enjoy. Henleaze Library (LIF) in Bristol is awarded £279,147 to transform it into a more inclusive and flexible community space. The project includes a new front extension for meetings and events, accessible facilities, and digital upgrades allowing community access outside regular hours.

The next rounds of these funds will open for applications in the coming months. Further details on the Museum Estate and Development Fund, and the new Museum Transformation Programme, along with the Libraries Improvement Fund will be announced in due course.

ENDS

Creative Foundations Fund full list of recipients:

London

• Southbank Centre – £10,000,000
• Harrow Arts Centre – £630,014
• Certain Blacks – £150,000
• Autograph ABP – £499,950
• The Lyric Theatre Hammersmith Limited – £534,227
• Theatre Royal Stratford East – £1,750,000
• St Margaret’s House – £700,000
• Create London, The White House, Dagenham – £500,000
• Shoreditch Town Hall – £899,847
• Kiln Theatre – £296,500
• London Contemporary Dance (The Place) Limited – £660,000
• Electric Ballroom CIC – £497,000
• Rich Mix Cultural Foundation – £2,205,000
• Royal Ballet and Opera – £5,000,000
• VocalEyes – £102,254
• English National Opera – £1,601,293

North East

• Northern Stage (Theatrical Productions) Ltd – £192,600
• Queen’s Hall Arts – £393,068
• THIRTY-SIX LIME STREET LIMITED – £847,932
• Baltic Flour Mills Visual Arts Trust – £3,649,800
• Gateway Studio CIO, New Trinity – £400,000
• Middlesbrough Council Cultural Services – £2,595,000
• The Cluny Events (North East) CIC – £334,000

North West

• Theatre Porto – £139,000
• esea contemporary – £359,100
• The Lowry Centre Trust – £8,500,000
• Liverpool & Merseyside Theatres Trust Ltd – £999,999
• Blackburn with Darwen BC – £990,000
• Skylight Circus Arts – £125,990
• Octopus Collective Ltd, Barrow – £396,000

East of England

• New Wolsey Theatre Company Ltd – £529,340
• Palace Theatre Watford Limited – £999,896
• Creative Arts East – £144,226
• Stagetext – £183,356
• Wysing Arts Centre – £195,000
• Firstsite Ltd – £995,000
• Britten Pears Arts – £1,954,825

South East

• Worthing Borough Council – £371,278
• Brighton Dome & Festival Limited – £468,701
• Watermill Theatre – £300,000
• The Mill Arts Centre – £135,000
• Kent County Council – £865,000
• Portsmouth New Theatre Royal – £450,000
• The Hexagon, Reading – £2,068,000
• Turner Sims, Southampton – £350,000
• Play to the Crowd, Theatre Royal Winchester – £398,000

South West

• TwoCan Inclusive Theatre Company – £283,169
• Taunton Theatre Association Ltd – £527,083
• Wiltshire Creative – £3,000,000
• Friends of the Lyric CIC – £170,000
• Newlyn Art Gallery Ltd – £726,599
• Theatre Royal (Plymouth) Ltd – £8,356,000
• Music Venue Properties – £999,000
• Trinity Community Arts – £390,000

East Midlands

• University of Leicester, Attenborough Arts Centre – £899,999
• Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage, Leicester – £119,725
• Northampton Theatres Trust – £538,000
• Nottingham Playhouse – £285,574
• North Kesteven District Council – £107,777

West Midlands

• Stoke on Trent & North Staffordshire Theatre Trust – £295,308
• Royal Shakespeare Company – £7,298,800
• Paines Plough – £750,000
• Birmingham Royal Ballet – £949,953
• Birmingham Repertory Theatre – £3,047,229
• Claybody Theatre – £150,000
• Wolverhampton Arts Centre – £4,999,999

Yorkshire and the Humber

• Hull Truck Theatre – £318,911
• Barnsley Civic Enterprise Ltd Civic – £805,165
• Kirklees Theatre Trust – £630,000
• Yorkshire Dance Centre Trust – £750,000
• Mind the Gap Studio – £100,000
• Northern Ballet Limited – £522,500
• Rotherham Theatres – £200,000
• Scarborough Theatre Trust Ltd – £2,700,000

Museum Estate and Development Fund full list of recipients:

London

• London Transport Museum – £999,999
• Museum of the Order of St John – £413,015

North East

• Hartlepool Borough Council – £2,458,641
• Chesters Roman Fort – £476,566

North West

• Grundy Art Gallery – £357,000
• People’s History Museum – £2,491,670
• Port Sunlight Village Trust – £499,999
• Lancaster City Museum – £94,056
• Bramall Hall, Stockport Museums – £1,000,000
• Greater Manchester Transport Society – £244,000
• The Armitt Museum and Library – £238,098

East of England

• Natural History Museum, Colchester – £499,477
• Sheringham Museum – £456,170

South East

• Walmer Castle – £3,080,000
• The Brickworks Museum – £280,000
• Whitchurch Silk Mill – £210,045
• Brading Roman Villa – £80,707

South West

• Bristol Museums – £3,567,713

East Midlands

• Boston Guildhall – £401,112
• National Tramway Museum – £492,880
• Creswell Crags – £184,705
• Newstead Abbey, Nottingham – £1,550,747

West Midlands

• Black Country Living Museum – £454,159
• Compton Verney – £794,750

Yorkshire and the Humber

• Burton Constable Hall – £242,000
• Oakwell Hall, Kirklees – £1,638,724
• Yorkshire Museum – £2,000,000
• Ryedale Folk Museum – £350,676

Libraries Improvement Fund full list of recipients:

London

• London Borough Havering – £499,000
• London Borough of Barking and Dagenham – £300,000
• London Borough of Ealing Libraries – £50,000
• RBG – Sport, Leisure and Library Services, Greenwich Libraries – £121,755
• Harrow Libraries – £110,000
• Camden Council – £149,655

East of England

• East Ham Co-Working and Study Space – £350,000
• Suffolk County Council – £500,000
• Cambridgeshire Community and Cultural Services – £150,000

North East

• Hartlepool Borough Council – £94,400
• Northumberland Libraries – £491,022
• Gateshead Council – Library Service – £71,794

North West

• Manchester City Council – £52,942
• St Helens Council Library Service – £290,000
• Rochdale Borough Council – £140,000

South East

• Surrey Libraries – £50,000

South West

• South Gloucestershire Council (Cultural Services) –  £167,639
• Devon County Council – £200,000
• Bristol City Council – £279,147

East Midlands

• Derbyshire County Council – £440,000

West Midlands

• Walsall Council – £170,000
• City of Wolverhampton Council –  £270,000
• Shropshire Libraries –  £299,000
• Telford & Wrekin – £235,971

Yorkshire and the Humber

• Sheffield Libraries – £87,000
• North Lincolnshire Council – £265,560
• Hull Culture and Leisure Library – £203,175
• East Riding Libraries – £300,000

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 13 April 2026.

£28.5 million UK Games Fund to support video games studios with great ideas create the next Grand Theft Auto or Tomb Raider.

• London Games Festival kicks off with £1.5 million of new government funding to help it attract investment in British talent
• Measures form part of government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan, part of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, to turbocharge economic growth

Video game developers with great ideas for the next generation of smash hit games are being urged to apply for a share of a new £28.5 million pot of funding.

The move represents a doubling in funding for the sector as the government puts the Creative Industries Sector Plan into action. These targeted investments are expected to pay dividends to the taxpayer by driving economic growth and creating jobs. Applications for funding will open from 14 April.

The UK is already an international powerhouse in gaming, having created global hits like Grand Theft Auto, Fable, PowerWash Simulator and No Man’s Sky. Across the UK, there are more than 2,000 gaming companies, employing tens of thousands of people recognised globally for their talent and creativity.

Through the Games Growth Package, the government will support newly-formed and expanding developers to turn blueprints for games into reality, enabling them to sell their product both in the UK and around the world.

The package is launching as leading games companies from around the world gather at the London Games Festival. Today the government can also announce that £1.5 million of new funding has been awarded to the festival over the next three years, to help ensure the UK remains at the centre of the sector globally.

The funding will help strengthen investor partnerships, doubling the value to £30 million per year of private investment deals at the festival. 

Creative Industries Minister Ian Murray said:

Video games are not only great fun, they are big business – and for too long their value to the British economy has been overlooked.

That is why the government has thrown its full support behind the sector with £30 million of new funding. This will turbocharge the careers of some of our most talented game developers, creating more jobs and economic growth right across the country as their ideas come to fruition.

The video game market is bigger than ever before, with £8.8 billion being spent by gamers per year, meaning there are excellent expansion prospects for our world-class sector. This new funding will empower developers to take advantage of these opportunities, creating jobs and driving economic growth.

The sector has strong footholds in areas outside London including Dundee, Leamington Spa and Guildford, and this additional funding will help ensure it thrives in all regions of the UK.

The Games Growth Package was a key commitment in the Industrial Strategy’s Creative Industries Sector Plan, a £380 million growth blueprint to ensure the UK’s creative sectors remain the best in the world.

Grants from the UK Games Fund will be split into three categories:

• An Entry Track, with grants of up to £20,000 available to newly formed companies with limited track records but strong potential for growth.
• An Emergent Track, with grants of up to £100,000 for prototyping new games.
• An Expansion Track, with grants of up to £250,000 – the largest ever provided by the Fund – available to take games forward to completion and enable studios to scale up.

This is on top of significantly increased support for the sector from the British Business Bank and the UKRI research body and generous games tax relief. Additionally, £20 million of funding has been provided by the government to Tay Cities Region to back local talent in advancing creative technologies like computer games and virtual reality to drive new products and grow the economy.

It also builds on work such as Ukie’s Made in the UK games campaign, which showcases the best homemade games like RuneScape and Tomb Raider, and the business that built them.

The government has also commissioned the Chartered Trading Standard Institute to develop new guidance to help gamers better understand their consumer rights when purchasing their favourite games. The guidance clarifies business obligations and consumer rights under the law when selling and purchasing digital content, including video games. A CTSI-led consultation will launch in the coming months to inform this guidance. 

As part of the government’s wider plans to grow the gaming sector, it will engage with the newly-established UK Esports Advisory Panel, a Ukie-led forum between government and the esports sector which will ensure the UK remains a world leader in this industry.

This is the latest step in the delivery of the Creative Industries Sector Plan, following recent events to promote funding for innovation and access to finance.

Paul Durrant OBE, UK Games Talent and Finance CIC Founder and Director, said:

We welcome this strong reinforcement of government support for the UK video games development sector. The three track funding approach will ensure that support is provided across the broadest level of the UK sector.

Nick Poole OBE, Chief Executive of Ukie, said:

We welcome the Government’s Games Growth Package as a strong vote of confidence in the UK games industry.

We have been pleased to work with the DCMS team to help shape this package of support, ensuring it reflects the needs of studios across the country. Targeted support across the development pipeline will help studios start, scale and stay globally competitive.

As we look ahead to a defining year for games made in the UK, we will continue working closely with government to support growth, drive innovation, and create high-quality jobs across the country.

Dr Richard Wilson OBE, TIGA CEO, said:

Access to finance is a persistent challenge for many game developers. TIGA has previously called for more prototype and content funding to enable studios to access the investment they need to make great games. Today’s announcement of an increase in grant funding for newly formed companies, prototype funding and expansion funding is great news for studios, the games industry and the wider UK economy.

Michael French MBE, Head of Games London & Festival Director, London Games Festival, said:

Over the last ten years, LGF and Games London has supported talent across the UK and helped establish London as one of the world’s largest hubs for games makers – but this commitment from national government into the London Games Festival has fast-tracked our deeper ambitions.

The efforts are already paying off: This week sees the largest showing yet for our festival, which will help to further promote London and the UK as a video games centre of excellence to global investors and decision makers. This can only keep growing over the next three years and we are excited to help raise the international profile of the UK’s games market, reach bigger audiences nationally and around the world, and facilitate investment into games businesses up and down the country.

Nick Button-Brown, Chair, UK Video Games Council: 

This is an amazing statement of intent by the government and a sign of their long-term support for gaming in the UK.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 12 April 2026.

Government today launches plan to make it easier for the wealthiest in society to give back to communities that need help most.

• This new plan will include new opportunities for philanthropists to partner with government in targeting their giving
• Plan will connect philanthropists with existing local initiatives, helping spread donations across the country

Billions of pounds will become more accessible to England’s most disadvantaged communities as the government sets out a new plan to deal with some of the most pressing and challenging societal issues across this country.

Despite £14 billion being donated to charity across the UK in 2025, the benefits have not been shared equally. London currently receives more than a third of all funding from the largest philanthropic foundations and four times the value of Gift Aid donations compared to the UK average.

The government’s new plan, Our Place to Give, aims to change that. By connecting philanthropic donors with local organisations outside of London, the plan aims to ensure that investment reaches the communities and people that need it most.  

Backed by £1 million of government funding, the place-based plan will offer opportunities for match-funding, better involve philanthropists in funding programmes, and ensure their voices are brought in and heard as programmes are devised and implemented. 

Sport, Tourism, Civil Society and Youth Minister Stephanie Peacock said:

Today’s announcement will help philanthropists across the country support local causes they are passionate about.

By better connecting generous individuals with local organisations at the heart of their communities, we can unlock a new wave of giving that reaches every corner of the country.

Steve Rigby, Chair of The Rigby Foundation and CEO, Rigby Group said:

The strong backing this report has received across the sector reflects the insight and experience brought together in its development. The UK has some outstanding philanthropists, and Our Place to Give provides a roadmap for unlocking even greater investment into communities across the country. 

Through my family’s charitable work in the West Midlands and my participation in the Philanthropy Reference Group, I’ve seen first-hand how connecting generous donors with local people and projects can drive meaningful, lasting change.

By 2050, up to £7 trillion is expected to be passed down to the next generation. The government’s new plan sets out a plan to unlock new pathways for generous donations to reach communities most in need.

The plan will strengthen links between donors and places, build better partnerships and unlock further investment. Key actions include: 

• £1 million of funding over three years to help organisations across England share expertise, attract investment and create sustainable economic growth 
• A network of regional philanthropic ambassadors will be appointed to broker stronger links between philanthropists, communities and government
• Collaboration between  government and the  financial services sector to better provide philanthropic advice 

The government will promote a more open culture of giving, celebrating the profound impact of local philanthropy and encouraging the next generation of philanthropists to invest back into the communities that shaped them. To support this, a new toolkit is being launched for MPs alongside the roadmap, equipping local representatives to champion philanthropy, convene local giving opportunities and foster a positive environment for generosity in the places they know best.

This builds on the government’s wider ambitions for community renewal. The £5.8 billion Pride in Place programme is already empowering local people to direct funding towards what matters most in their areas. By aligning philanthropic investment with these place-based priorities, the government aims to ensure that the generosity of high-net-worth individuals complements and amplifies existing public investment, driving lasting change in the communities that need it most.

Our Place to Give: a plan for growing place-based philanthropy is available at gov.uk.

The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 10 April 2026.

£4 million of public funding and private philanthropy to improve access to museums and galleries across the country.

• Investment to support local people by improving displays, enhancing collection care and making exhibitions more accessible to visitors
• Partnership between the DCMS and the Wolfson Foundation has funded more than 440 projects over the last 24 years, to help more people engage with arts and culture

24 local museums have received a share of £4 million through the DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund. 

The Fund brings together £2 million in match funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and independent, grant making charity, the Wolfson Foundation. It supports local museums by improving displays, enhancing collection care and making exhibitions more accessible to visitors. 

Over the past 24 years, the fund has awarded over £50 million, which has supported more than 440 projects across the country. It supports the Government’s ongoing commitment to ensure everyone, everywhere has access to arts and culture in the place they call home. 

Yesterday (Thursday 9 April), the Museums Minister Baroness Twycross and Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation, visited Norwich Castle which has been awarded £228,900 in this latest round. They met with local representatives to discuss how the investment will enable Norwich Castle to upgrade the gallery infrastructure, remodel and update display cases and reinterpret collections, improving the visitor experience. 

Museums Minister, Baroness Twycross said:

We want to ensure that everyone, everywhere can experience arts and culture in the area they call home and this fund plays a key role in making that possible.

The DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund demonstrates how public funding and private philanthropy can work together to open up access to museums and galleries for those who might otherwise face barriers, and help more people enjoy the UK’s world-class collections.

Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said:

Museums are among the great treasures of British cultural life. They preserve the collections and stories that speak of our shared creativity and community heritage. This latest round of funding from the long-standing DCMS/Wolfson partnership allows museums – and particularly regional museums – to upgrade their facilities and improve access to their collections, so more of us can enjoy the fascinating wonders on our doorstep.

Other examples of funded projects include:

• The Black Country Living Museum will receive £272,000 for a project which will revive the Museum’s historic but currently inactive electric trolleybuses and extend the route into the local 1940s-60s High Street. This project will restore the use of the electric transport, protect the area’s nationally significant collection and transform access and deliver a truly unique immersive experience for visitors.
• Museum of Hartlepool has been awarded £218,400 for the creation of a Temporary Exhibitions Gallery and Collections Care Facility. The investment will support essential upgrades to the Museum’s Exhibition and Collections infrastructure by installing new display cases, lighting, flooring, and environmental controls meeting national security and conservation standards. This will improve collections facilities to provide secure, climate-controlled conditions for artefacts in storage, ensuring that treasures can continue to inspire and educate visitors for generations. 
• Kirkleatham Museum will receive £272,000 which will help to reimagine Kirkleatham Museum’s permanent galleries around three themes – People and Place, Industry and Innovation, and Heritage and Discovery. The project will support the redevelopment of the Museum’s core gallery spaces, creating modern, accessible and inspiring displays that better reflect the stories, people and heritage of Redcar and Cleveland.

The successful museums and galleries are part of the 15th round of funding from the DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund.

Notes to editors

Full list of recipients:

North West

• Platt Hall (Manchester City Galleries) – £38,700
• Manchester Museum – £200,000

North East

• Segedunum Roman Fort – £213,100
• Seven Stories, National Centre for Children’s Books – £316,200
• Museum of Hartlepool – £218,400
• Kirkleatham Museum – £272,000

South East

• Reading Museum – £80,000
• Weald and Downland Living Museum – £227,000
• Booth Museum of Natural History – £139,900
• Pitt Rivers Museum – £55,000

South West

• SS Great Britain – £46,300
• Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon – £103,000
• Bristol Museum and Art Gallery – £317,100
• The Burton at Bideford – £86,500

West Midlands

• Barber Institute of Fine Arts – £150,000
• British Motor Museum – £147,700
• Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery – £183,100
• Black Country Living Museum – £272,000

East Midlands 

• National Tramway Museum – £210,600

East of England

• Food Museum – £357,600
• Norwich Castle – £228,900

London 

• Garden Museum – £75,000

Yorkshire and the Humber

• Thackray Museum of Medicine – £39,900
• Hepworth Wakefield – £22,000

About DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund

The DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund provides capital funding for museums and galleries across England to improve displays, protect collections and make exhibitions more accessible to visitors. For 2025-27, DCMS and the Wolfson Foundation have each contributed £2 million to the Fund, which has benefitted more than 440 projects in its more than 24-year history.  

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 6 April 2026.

First eight ‘Young Futures Hubs’ opening in Birmingham, Brighton and Hove, Bristol, County Durham, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, and Tower Hamlets.

• Part of the National Youth Strategy, a network of 50 Hubs will provide joined-up services across mental health and wellbeing, employment and crime prevention
• Next week the Government will launch its plan to halve knife crime within a decade to save lives, transform the futures of young people and protect communities across the country

Young people in eight locations across England are to benefit from the first ‘Young Futures Hubs’ opened by the Government. The hubs, targeted in areas with high levels of anti-social behaviour and knife crime, will:

• Transform the lives of young people, cut crime and protect communities 
• Divert them away from knife crime and anti-social behaviour
• Provide them with services and advice to combat social isolation, mental health and unemployment
• Give access to safe, trusted adults

Under the government’s National Youth Strategy, Youth Matters, the first eight of 50 Young Futures Hubs have opened or will shortly open in Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Durham, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham and Tower Hamlets.

Hubs will build on existing services, and create safe, welcoming spaces bringing a range of local support services under one roof. Young people aged 10-18 (and up to 25 for those with SEND) will have access to trusted adults who will provide wellbeing support, careers guidance, and positive activities like sport, arts and volunteering. The government is committed to ensuring that success for young people is not determined by their background, and the hubs will also offer support for vulnerable children. These activities help divert young people away from knife crime and anti-social behaviour, as well as combat social isolation and mental health, and increase access to job opportunities for young people.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

The closure of over a thousand youth centres since 2010 didn’t just take away facilities, it took away community, connection and opportunity for a generation. We are determined to rebuild that.

These hubs are about more than bricks and mortar, they’re a statement that this government believes in young people and is investing in their futures. What makes them different is that we’re joining things up – wellbeing support, crime prevention, work coaches, youth services, all in one place. 

We’re making sure teenagers have somewhere to go, someone to talk to, and a real chance to thrive.

This comes as the Government launches its plan to halve knife crime within a decade. Titled “Protecting Lives, Building Hope”, it will save lives, transform the futures of young people and protect communities across the country. The Government will support young people so they get the best start in life, stop those at risk from turning to knife crime and police our streets to catch and punish perpetrators. 

In some areas, the Hubs will work with new multi-agency Young Futures Panels, to ensure children at risk of knife crime are provided with the support they need.  The panels bring together the police, children’s services, schools, and community organisations to identify vulnerable children early, spot risks that may otherwise go unnoticed, and ensure they are quickly referred into the right support before issues escalate. 

Sarah Jones, Policing Minister, said: 

Knife crime devastates lives. Behind every statistic is a child who didn’t make it home, a family whose world has been shattered, and a community left with fear. This Government will halve knife crime within a decade, saving lives and protecting communities. We will roll out Young Futures Hubs in crime hotspots across the country to divert young people from violence, cut crime and protect communities.

The Prime Minister has spoken of how young people have become “collateral damage” over the past decade, prompting the launch of the National Youth Strategy – the first in 15 years. The ambitious 10-year plan to rebuild youth services is backed by over £500 million of investment, and was designed in collaboration with more than 14,000 young people across England.

£70 million will be invested to establish 50 Young Futures Hubs and transform local youth services, rebuilding Local Authority capability after a decade of declining investment, with spending falling by 73% since 2010. As a result, many young people have been left without access to safe, supportive environments or a community to belong to, while reliance on online interaction has grown in the absence of face-to-face opportunities.

Minister for Youth and Civil Society Stephanie Peacock said:

When this Government developed the National Youth Strategy, we listened to over 14,000 young people from across the country. What came through clearly was that they wanted somewhere to go, something to do, and someone who cares. Young Futures Hubs are part our response to this and we are delighted to see the first eight up and running. Hubs are places where young people can belong, with trusted adults and positive activities all under one roof. Keeping young people safe and away from crime starts with making sure they have the right support around them, and that’s exactly what these hubs deliver.

The Young Futures Hubs programme has been designed to respond directly to these challenges by creating welcoming, youth-led spaces where young people can enjoy real-life connections, with somewhere to go, something to do, and someone who cares for them.

From the Barca Leeds in Bramley to the Full Circle Docklands in Bristol, each hub has been co-designed with young people themselves, ensuring the atmosphere and activities reflect their true needs and passions.

The eight Young Futures Hubs have opened or will shortly open in the following locations:

• Manchester: Young Futures Hub (YF Hub) network based across Moss Side Millenium Powerhouse (Moss Side), Manchester Youth Zone (Harpurhey), and Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre (Wythenshawe), with further outreach planned in six smaller neighbourhood hubs across the city. 
• Birmingham: YF Hub to open in temporary location at Library of Birmingham before moving to permanent Cannon Street site from summer 2026. 
• Brighton and Hove: Main YF Hub based at 67 Centre, with linked sites in central locations at Brighton Youth Centre, Tarner and Impact Initiatives, as well as in Hangleton and Knoll. Further offers in the east of the city are under development. 
• County Durham: YF Hub based at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre.
• Bristol: Main YF Hub based at Full Circle Docklands, with enhanced provision and a connected network across five venues in Ashley, Central and Lawrence Hill wards, connecting the Hub with additional outreach in the community and schools. 
• Tower Hamlets: YF Hub based at Haileybury Youth Centre in the central St Dunstan’s ward.
• Leeds: Main YF Hub based at Barca Leeds in Bramley, with additional ‘spokes’ sites at LS-TEN in south Leeds and Imagination Station in east Leeds. 
• Nottingham: Main YF hub based at Beaumont Street Community Centre with plans to work with partners to provide services for all children and young people to access across the City.

More information on specific provision at each site is available on request. 

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 20 March 2026.

A temporary export bar has been placed on the historically significant archive of James Stirling.

• The archive catalogues revolutionary practices at James Stirling’s Scots Mining Company that ushered in a new era of better conditions for workers 
• The export bar will allow time for a UK archive or institution to acquire the collection for the nation

An export bar has been placed on an archive relating to James Stirling’s radical management of the Leadhills mines to allow time for a UK buyer to be found.

The archive charts the development of one of the most extraordinary operations of the Industrial Revolution. In 1736 James Stirling took over a struggling mining business in South Lanarkshire, where miners lived and worked in poverty. Stirling created a programme to radically improve the living conditions of workers as well as their productivity. His success became a blueprint for future socially-minded industrialists like George Cadbury. 

The large collection includes 51 bundles of letters between the Scots Mining Company, James Stirling and later company managers, as well as a 1738 book of orders relating to the direction of the company. One of James Stirling’s copy books from 1736-37 is included, featuring his own mathematical notations. Further documents include a catalogue of the Leadhills Miners’ Library from 1800 and a folder of twentieth century research papers relating to Stirling’s role at Leadhills mine.

James Stirling was born into the Scottish landed aristocracy in 1692, during the reign of King William III and Queen Mary II. He was a talented mathematician, but his family’s support for the Jacobite rivals to the English monarchy blocked his academic ambitions. Instead he became a mathematics teacher in London, ultimately meeting and befriending some of the greatest enlightenment thinkers of the day. By 1726, Isaac Newton proposed him for membership of the Royal Society.

The radical changes James Stirling brought to the Leadhills mines site began with cuts to working hours from 72 to 40 per week and the introduction of team leaders, who would negotiate with managers over the pay for each task, thus giving workers more ownership and incentivisation for their labour. Families were supported to build their own cottages, with patches set aside for crops or livestock. A social insurance scheme for the sick and elderly was established, along with a school, church and library – which remains the oldest subscription library in the UK today.

Culture Minister, Baroness Twycross said:

In the eighteenth century it was radical to believe that better conditions would improve the productivity of workers. James Stirling’s reforms were a step towards the progression of workers’ rights and modern social security.

As key historical sources of Britain’s industrial and social history, it’s important that these documents remain available for research. It is excellent that James Stirling’s model village survives at Leadhills and I hope this archive can remain accessible to the public too.

Committee member, Caroline Shenton said: 

James Stirling was an extraordinary 18th century employer, creating for his mineworkers at Leadhills one of the first, if not the first, model industrial settlement in Great Britain. The archive of letters he left behind describing his methods and progressive approach at Leadhills in the best traditions of the Scottish Enlightenment is hugely significant and endlessly fascinating. It would be a great tragedy if they were to leave the country, and so I very much hope that a suitable home can be found for them in a UK public institution.

This is the sixth temporary export bar issued since the start of the year by the Government. It follows attempts to protect a bust of John Gordon of Invergordon; Claude Lorrain’s Landscape with Rural Dance; Shock Dog by Anne Seymour Damer; a sculpture of two putti by Michael Rysbrack; and Howard Hodgkin’s Mrs Acton in Delhi.

The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA).

The Committee made its recommendation on the basis that the archive met the first and third Waverley criteria for its outstanding connection with our history and national life and its outstanding significance to the study of local, regional, and pioneering social and industrial history of Scotland.

The decision on the export licence application for the archive will be deferred for a period ending on 19 June 2026 inclusive. At the end of the first deferral period owners will have a consideration period of 15 Business Days to consider any offer(s) to purchase the archive at the recommended price of £24,928 (inclusive of VAT of £988 which can be reclaimed by an eligible institution). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for three months.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 9 March 2026.

Powers are in addition to an imminent consultation that will road-test plans to ban leaders who use their positions to promote violence or hatred.

The Government has announced plans to strengthen the Charity Commission’s powers to close down charities that promote extremism and protect the vast majority of the sector delivering positive work. 

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has asked officials to work with the regulator to speed up the process for investigating charities suspected of engaging in extremist behaviour, including strengthening its powers to close them down if needed. This includes processing decisions more quickly and reviewing the appeals process.  

Further measures under consideration include mandatory trustee ID verification, the digitisation of charity accounts, and a strengthening of local authority powers to issue fines and take other enforcement action to tackle unlicensed street fundraising. 

The measures are in addition to a new consultation launching shortly, which will road-test plans to automatically ban individuals with a criminal conviction for hate crime from serving as charity trustees or senior managers. It will also consult on plans to strengthen the Commission’s powers to disqualify individuals where there is evidence they have promoted violence or hatred. 

This work forms part of wider government plans – which will be announced later today – to actively renew the UK’s social contract by promoting national pride, establishing clearer expectations around integration, and taking action to bring communities together. 

Since October 2023, the Charity Commission has opened over 400 regulatory cases for hate speech, and made around 70 referrals to police where criminal offences may have been committed. 

The government recognises that robust action is necessary to ensure that those with extremist agendas cannot exploit charitable status and undermine public trust in the sector. 

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

Charities are the lifeblood of our communities, and we will not allow extremists to hijack their good name. 

By giving the Charity Commission the teeth it needs to act fast and decisively, we will close the door on those who exploit charitable status to spread hate, and open a new chapter that gives the sector the protection it deserves.

This is a vital step in our ongoing work of national renewal and a Britain built for all.

These measures build on the Civil Society Covenant launched last summer, which is harnessing the collective power that charities play in bringing communities together and supporting Britain’s most vulnerable people. 

ENDS

• The Charity Commission regulate charities in England and Wales, to ensure that the public can support charities with confidence.
• Today, the Government will set out an initial plan to improve social cohesion, recognising how social cohesion in the UK has come under strain from widespread challenges like economic insecurity, foreign interference, migration pressures and extremism. It will set out plans to actively renew the UK’s social contract by promoting national pride, establishing clearer expectations around integration, and taking action to bring communities together.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 13 February 2026.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has appointed 7 new Trustees to the National Museums Liverpool Board, for 4 years terms.

Peter Duffy

Appointed from 19 January 2026 to 18 January 2030.

Peter is CEO of the FTSE 250 listed Mony Group PLC which operates under three consumer brands in the UK – MoneySuperMarket, MoneySavingExpert and Quidco.  He has extensive experience of digital businesses as well as banks, airlines, automotive and consumer delivery.  Previously, Peter was global CEO of Just Eat, CCO at easyJet, Marketing Director at Audi UK & Group Marketing Services Director at Barclays.  He has also served as a non-executive director of the merchant banking group Close Brothers and was President of the ISBA.

Lord John Grantchester

Appointed from 19 January 2026 to 18 January 2030.

Lord Grantchester has held various prominent roles throughout his career, including serving as a member of the House of Lords since 1995. His non-executive experience has involved serving as an NED with Littlewoods in the 1990s  and a number of roles in farming and rural economy. He was Director of Dairy Farmers of Britain from 2003-2008 and Director of Everton Football Club Company Ltd from 1994 to 2000. He has also served on the council of the Liverpool County FA.

Sue Harris

Appointed from 19 January 2026 to 18 January 2030.

After graduating with a degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University, Sue embarked on a career in accountancy, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young in Liverpool where she specialised in audit in the financial services sector. Following a move to RSM, Sue’s involvement in the charity and not-for-profit sectors began. During her career Sue has worked with national charities such as the Royal Horticultural Society and with local non departmental public bodies such as the Northwest Development Agency, advising on financial control, governance and risk management. 

She is currently an audit partner with Champion Accountants, based in their Chester office, where her work with local charities continues. Sue is also a trustee and treasurer of Chester Civic Trust whose purpose is to preserve and enhance Chester’s architectural and cultural heritage and to foster civic pride and public interest. She is a great lover of art, taking every opportunity to visit art galleries and museums across the UK and Europe, and is passionate about the importance of cultural heritage to our human identity and of being part of the team at NML working to protect and preserve that heritage for future generations.

Nigel Lowe

Appointed from 19 January 2026 to 18 January 2030.

Nigel Lowe was born and raised on Merseyside and has maintained a lifelong connection to the region’s industrial, cultural and maritime heritage. He went on to study at the University of Liverpool, graduating with an engineering degree that laid the foundation for a career spanning several decades. A Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Engineering Technology, Nigel built his professional life across a range of technically demanding sectors, including manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and the nuclear industry.

His work took him throughout the United Kingdom and overseas, giving him experience of complex operational environments and the opportunity to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams. He worked in senior engineering and programme management roles where experience in highly regulated environments has given him a deep understanding of governance, risk management and organisational accountability.

Now retired, Nigel remains active in the community. He is a keen gardener and DIY enthusiast. He is committed to supporting institutions that preserve the region’s history, broaden access to culture and inspire future generations. Nigel brings to the museum sector a long‑standing interest in Merseyside’s industrial and scientific heritage, together with a clear commitment to supporting institutions that preserve and interpret the region’s history for diverse audiences.

Michelle Cox

Appointed from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2030.

Michelle Cox MBE is a registered nurse with extensive experience across the UK health system and a strong track record in advancing equality, diversity and inclusion. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing and a Fellow of the Queen’s Nursing Institute, reflecting her contribution to professional leadership, community nursing, and service improvement.

Kathryn Luke

Appointed from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2030.

Kathryn graduated Nottingham Trent University in 2004 with a BA Hons degree in Business Studies specialising in Marketing. Following university, she worked in marketing for commercial radio stations before moving into destination and events marketing. Relocating to Liverpool to work for Liverpool Culture Company to promote Liverpool leading up to and during its European Capital of Culture year in 2008.

Following the conclusion of the Capital of Culture year Kathryn returned to her native North East England to take up a position as Brand Manager for the Regional Development Agency, One North East, to promote North East England as a tourism destination, alongside key commercial travel partners, in key international markets.

However, having fallen in love with Liverpool she took the opportunity to return to the city to work for one of the UK’s largest Pureplay Online Retailers, Very. Kathryn has worked in online retail since 2011, spending 10 years at Very followed by 3 years at SimplyBe. Kathryn is a customer focused Ecommerce leader, supporting digital transformation and leading teams to deliver commercial revenue targets and is currently Director of Ecommerce Trading at Liverpool Football Club.

Clare Milsom

Appointed from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2030.

Professor Clare Milsom is a senior higher education leader and academic palaeontologist with extensive experience in governance, institutional transformation, and strategic leadership. As Registrar and Chief Operating Officer at Liverpool John Moores University, she has led major initiatives including the Estates Masterplan and the creation of a digital architecture delivering class-leading technology solutions across virtual and physical campuses. Her leadership has strengthened operational efficiency, enhanced the student experience, and advanced the university’s strategic growth and reputation. 

Alongside her leadership roles, Clare has over two decades of academic experience in palaeontology, with research spanning palaeobiology, taphonomy, and macroevolution. She has published extensively, including internationally recognised books such as Fossils at a Glance and multiple edited volumes on higher education policy. Awarded a National Teaching Fellowship and a Professorship of Academic Practice, she contributes widely to sector development through board memberships and collaborations in research, education, and governance.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Trustees of National Museums Liverpool are not remunerated. 

This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. 

Lord Grantchester is a member of the House of Lords and has previously held Shadow Parliamentary roles for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, International Trade, and Environment, Food and Rural affairs.

Michelle Cox, Peter Duffy, Kathryn Luke, Nigel Lowe, Clare Milsom and Sue Harris have declared no political activity.

The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 12 February 2026.

Review will examine digital shifts, market trends and emerging technologies including use of AI.

• Government is committed to helping UK radio to thrive and retain status as most trusted form of media, amid changing listener habits
• Nearly 75% of UK radio listening now happens on digital or online platforms, and the government will work with key industry partners to help manage this transition

Radio listeners across the UK stand to benefit as the government launches a review of the UK’s radio industry to ensure it continues to flourish as audiences increasingly shift to digital platforms.

Radio remains the most trusted form of media in the UK, with more than 85% of UK adults tuning in every week. From national and international headlines to crucial local updates, radio stations provide timely, reliable content that reflects the diverse fabric of the UK’s communities. They offer companionship and social connection to millions of people. 

However, the way people listen is rapidly changing. Almost 75% of UK radio listening now takes place on digital or online platforms, rather than FM and AM. To help the industry navigate this shift, the government will work with key partners, including the BBC and commercial radio, to examine changes in listener behaviour and audio markets in recent years, and make recommendations on the future distribution of radio services.

The review will consider:

• Whether there should be a managed transition away from FM in the 2030s and, if so, over what timescale;
• The potential impact of a decision on the future of Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) on radio distribution;
• The role of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the benefits and challenges they pose to the industry.

A previous Radio and Audio Review in 2021 concluded that FM should continue until at least 2030, but recommended that in 2026 government and industry revisit a potential analogue switch-off. There has been broad support across the industry for this further review.

The launch of this new review coincides with World Radio Day tomorrow (13 February), which this year focuses on ‘Radio and AI’, and how the technology could offer more personalised listener experiences and support fact-checking.

Media Minister Ian Murray said:

In the midst of the media revolution, radio remains a powerful and popular medium that holds a special place in people’s lives. It provides company for the isolated, entertainment to millions of people on their daily commute, and helps circulate vital news and information across the country.

However, we also know that listening habits are changing as even more people access radio via digital and online platforms, whether at home or in the car. The use of AI as a tool is only going to keep increasing in the coming years and this will impact how radio is made and consumed.

That is why it is so important that we carry out this review. We need to make sure that the UK radio industry has the right support to thrive long into the future.

Radiocentre’s CEO Matt Payton said:

Radio remains extremely popular, yet listening habits continue to change driven by new technology and innovation. Whether audiences are listening on smart speakers, a radio set or in a connected car, it’s vital to ensure that distribution and access to radio is secure for the future. We look forward to working together with government and industry to address this challenge.

The BBC’s Director of BBC Sounds Jonathan Wall said: 

We all have a common objective to secure and protect the future of radio for our listeners and welcome the opportunity to work together with our colleagues in commercial radio and across the industry during the Radio Review.

Notes to Editors

• The review’s Terms of Reference are to:

1. Investigate future scenarios for the consumption of UK radio and audio content on all platforms into the 2030s, taking into account likely models of future listener behaviour, market trends, and technical developments. 
2. Consider the impact of these scenarios on current and future distribution strategies for the UK radio industry and on the future availability of UK radio services for listeners on all platforms. 
3. Make recommendations – based as far as possible on a cross-industry consensus – on the future distribution of radio services and provide advice to government on ways of strengthening the long-term viability of UK radio until the early 2040s.

• The Radio Review will conclude in autumn 2026 with a report to the government.
• This report will inform further policy development and the latter stages of the ongoing BBC Charter Review.
• The most recent Rajar figures published on 5 February 2026 reported that 74.6% of all UK radio listening was via a digital platform.
• The Steering Board for the 2026 Radio Review will be confirmed in due course.
• This follows the recent uplift to the Community Radio Fund, which DCMS has increased to over £1 million to support nearly 50 radio stations across the UK, as announced by Ofcom on Tuesday.

The press release issued by the Department of Culture and Media on 6 February 2026.

A temporary export bar has been placed on Michael Rysbrack’s sculpture of two ‘putti’ supporting an architrave.

• Valued at £750,000, the sculpture is recognised to be of outstanding artistic quality
• Export bar is to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the sculpture for the nation

An export bar has been placed on Michael Rysbrack’s sculpture of two ‘putti’ supporting a column to allow time for a UK buyer to be found.

The sculpture was crafted to be one of a pair of chimney pieces, possibly for the grand Bedford House in London. Standing over a metre tall, the sculpture is cut from marble. It has been praised for its excellent quality and condition despite being nearly three hundred years old.

Owning similar sculptures was very popular amongst the British aristocracy during the eighteenth century. Rysbrack’s sculpture is inspired by ancient Greek and Roman art, with ownership of the sculpture symbolising interest and knowledge of the Classical World.

The depiction of the ‘putti’ – childlike figures – is recognised to be of extraordinary artistic quality. At the time of the sculpture’s creation, new research and understanding of childhood development was changing attitudes to children in London society. Rysbrack himself became a governor of London’s Foundling Hospital, which cared for orphaned children.

Michael Rysbrack was born and trained in Antwerp, but is best known for his career in England. He was inspired by Classical art for many of the sculptures he created, including those he crafted for Westminster Abbey. 

Culture Minister Baroness Twycross said:

The incredible detail on this marble sculpture of two childlike figures demonstrates a remarkable mastery of the craft. The quality of the putti is a clear testament to why Michael Rysbrack’s sculptures were so highly sought after in the eighteenth century.

Today, we continue to appreciate world class art such as this. I hope that this export bar can help secure this sculpture for the public to enjoy.

Committee Member, Stuart Lochead said:

Likely designed for Bedford House, London, this set of putti originally formed part of a monumental fireplace. Despite its scale, the carving is notably delicate: the flesh and hair of the two figures are rendered with remarkable tenderness. The use of infant imagery marks a pivotal moment in Rysbrack’s career. Having recently been elected Governor of the Foundling Hospital in London, alongside William Hogarth, the sculptor’s work reflects on the changing attitudes toward childhood in early eighteenth-century Britain. Displayed in one of London’s most important houses, this refined marble group would represent a significant loss if exported.

This is the fourth temporary export bar issued since the start of the year by this Government. It follows attempts to protect an 18th century bust of John Gordon of Invergordon, a £9 million Baroque painting by Claude Lorrain, and an 18th century terracotta dog sculpture by groundbreaking female sculptor, Anne Damer.

The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA).

The Committee made its recommendation on the basis that the sculpture met the second and third Waverley criteria for its outstanding aesthetic importance and its outstanding significance to the study of the work of Rysbrack; sculpture in the 18th century in architectural and social history; and the representation of children in portraiture.

The decision on the export licence application for the sculpture will be deferred for a period ending on 5 May 2026 inclusive. At the end of the first deferral period owners will have a consideration period of 15 Business Days to consider any offer(s) to purchase the sculpture at the recommended price of £750,000 (plus VAT of £150,000 which can be reclaimed by an eligible institution). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for four months.

Notes to editors

1. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the sculpture should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk.
2. Details of the ITEM are as follows: Michael Rysbrack, Antwerp, 1694 – London, 1770. Two putti supporting an architrave, c.1735-7. Marble, 131.3 cm high 131 cm wide
3. Provenance: Probably 4th Duke of Bedford, by descent to 5th Duke of Bedford; sold Christie’s, London, the Bedford House sale, 5 May 1800, lot 71, to 11th Duke of Norfolk; by descent to 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th Dukes of Norfolk; offered for sale by the 15th Duke of Norfolk (Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 1847-1917) at the Arundel Castle sale, Sparks & Son, 14 and 15 April 1891, either lot 289 or lot 299 (‘two figures of boys, in bold relief, supporting richly carved cornice, statuary marble, 4ft 3in high; 3ft wide’ and ‘The companion ditto’); sold Christie’s, London, 1 December 1911, lot 85 (‘TWO PORTIONS OF A CHIMNEY-PIECE, of white marble, each sculpted in high relief with two children supporting a frieze—51 in high, 44 in. wide—Italian, 17th Century’), to Harding for £162-15s [=155 guineas]. Private collection UK before 1960; from whom purchased by the current owner in 1979.
4. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an  independent body, serviced by Arts Council England (ACE), which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria.