Tag: Department for Culture and Media

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 16 August 2024.

A temporary export bar has been placed on Alan Turing’s unpublished Second World War papers relating to his ‘Delilah’ project.

• The wartime documents are valued at £397,680
• Export bar is to allow time for a UK institution to acquire the papers

An export bar has been placed on Alan Turing’s unpublished Second World War papers relating to the ‘Delilah’ project, which developed a portable encryption system for use in military operations.

The papers are valued at £397,680 (inclusive of VAT of £16,280 which can be reclaimed by an eligible institution), and are at risk of leaving the UK unless a domestic buyer can be found to acquire them.

Following Turing’s groundbreaking work on the Enigma machines at Bletchley Park, he began work on the ‘Delilah’ project at Hanslope Park to develop a portable encryption system or voice scrambler to protect military secrets in the field.

The papers consist of two bound notebooks and six separate gatherings of loose sheets. It comprises the notes of Alan Turing (1912-54) and Donald Bayley (1921-2020) relating to the World War Two project ‘Delilah’.

Unpublished evidence of Alan Turing’s work has rarely survived. Turing himself did not usually keep research notes, working drafts, or correspondence. This collection of papers dating from 1943 to 1945 sheds light on some of Turing’s most inventive, secret, and overlooked work.

Shortly after the Second World War ended in 1945, the Delilah machine was complete and Turing was able to demonstrate the working machine successfully, which showed a recording of one of Winston Churchill’s speeches, using a system which encrypted and decrypted communications from telephone and radio devices.

Alan Turing’s work prefigured our modern digital world and his work at Bletchley Park is seen as being crucial to ending the Second World War early and saving many lives.  His post-war work formed the foundations of computer science as we know it today.  Alan Turing was later awarded an OBE for his work during the Second World War.

Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

The Delilah project papers offer unique insights into the extraordinary mind of Alan Turing, who is famed for decoding the Enigma machines, being instrumental in ending the Second World War and saving many lives.

The British mathematician was central to the development of our modern digital world. It is right that a UK buyer has the opportunity to purchase these papers to give people the opportunity to continue to study and appreciate his work as an important part of our national story.

The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest. The Committee found that the papers met the first and third Waverley criteria for their outstanding connection with our history and national life and their outstanding significance for the study of the history of computing, as well as Alan Turing’s mathematical knowledge of electrical engineering.

RCEWA Chair Andrew Hochhauser KC said:

The United Kingdom owes a debt of gratitude to Alan Turing. His extraordinary work on the Enigma project at Bletchley Park played a major part in winning World War Two and saved so many lives. Turing is closely connected to our modern digital world. He is generally accepted to be the founder of computer science and is also widely considered to be the father of Artificial Intelligence.

The regard in which he is held is illustrated by the fact that in 2019 he was voted by a BBC audience the most iconic person of the twentieth century. He appears on the current £50 note. Explaining the Bank of England’s choice, the then Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, observed, ‘All around us, his legacy continues to hold. Turing is a giant on whose shoulders so many now stand.’

The decision on the export licence application for the papers will be deferred for a period ending on 15 November 2024 (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 papers at the recommended price of £397,680 (inclusive of VAT of £16,280 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 papers should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk .
2. Details of the object are as follows: two bound notebooks and six separate gatherings of loose paper sheets. It comprises the papers of Alan Turing (1912-54) and Donald Bayley (1921-2020) relating to the World War Two project ‘Delilah’. The papers date principally from 1943 to 1945, with some later additions. The material is divided as follows: Laboratory notebook (Turing and Bayley) (70 folios; 4to; 258 x 204mm). Papers on the Bandwidth theorem (Turing) (2 folios; 4to; 289 x 220mm). ‘Red form’ notes: mathematical diagrams, calculations and explanations written on the reverse of wireless-telegraphy intercept forms (Turing and Bayley) (20 folios; frayed; 4to; 250 x 189mm). ‘Determination of cut-off volts’: mathematical calculations, written on reverse of a wireless-operator log sheet (Turing) (1 folio; frayed; 4to; 249 x 197mm). ‘Faltung’: notes on the mathematics of convolutions, with diagram of mushroom, on reverse of radio log sheet (Turing) (1 folio; frayed and creased; 4to; 262 x 195mm). Notebook of notes taken by Bayley at Turing’s lectures delivered at Hanslope Park (90 folios), followed by notes taken by Bayley at university (140 folios) (Bayley) (230 folios; 4to; 278 x 235mm). Notes on different electrical problems (Turing) (2 folios) and summary notes on topics covered in Turing’s lectures (Turing, Bayley, and unidentified) (11 folios) (13 folios; 4to; 288 x 215 mm), two foolscap folios (325 x 200mm) one folio (227 x 288mm). Notes on a mathematical problem (Turing) (2 folios; 288 x 215mm)
3. Provenance: Donald Bayley, thence by descent; sold at Bonham’s 14 November 2023
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.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 14 August 2024.

A temporary export bar has been placed on an Iron Age coin bearing the name of a British ruler from 40 BCE.

• The coin is valued at a price of £20,040
• Export bar is to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the coin

A temporary export bar has been placed on an Iron Age coin bearing the name of the local ruler Esunertos, from the Danebury region.

The coin, valued at £20,040 (plus VAT of £680 which can be reclaimed by an eligible institution), bears the name of Esunertos, a significant historical figure who is thought to have been a ruler from the Danebury region in Wessex around 40 BCE. He was a contemporary of Julius Caesar and likely held a position of authority and prestige.

It was found in 2023 in the Test Valley in Hampshire, England and provides vital evidence to support  historians’ claims of the ruler’s existence.

Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

This Iron Age coin is a unique item from the time of Julius Caesar providing fascinating insights into who ruled parts of England and the very foundations of our early history.

As a rare object from our distant past, I hope a suitable UK buyer can be found so it can teach us about this period in our history and be studied and enjoyed by the public for years to come.

The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest. The committee noted that the coin was found to meet the first and third Waverley criteria. Its departure from the UK would be a misfortune because it was so closely connected with our history and national life and was of outstanding significance to the study of archaeology, numismatics, history, and linguistics.

Committee Member Tim Pestell said:

Discovering the name of a previously unknown person from Britain’s pre-historic Late Iron Age is a rare and special occasion. The recovery of this tiny gold ‘quarter stater’ coin in Hampshire’s Test Valley in 2023 has provided archaeologists with a unique witness to the life of Esunertos, who lived c.40-30BC and whose name appears on one side. A British contemporary of Julius Caesar, he was clearly a leader with power and influence among the Belgae tribe in southern England. Despite its diminutive size, this coin therefore has huge potential to help tell us more about the tribal people of our pre-Roman period and, through its inscription, even the language they spoke. I earnestly hope that the deferral of this coin from being exported will allow a public institution to acquire and display this most special and nationally significant object, evidencing as it does the rule of Esunertos – one of the first British people whose name we now know.

The decision on the export licence application for the coin will be deferred for a period ending on 13 October 2024 (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 coin at the recommended price of £20,040 (plus VAT of £680 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.

Notes to editors

1. Organisations or individuals  interested in purchasing the coin should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk.
2. Details of the object are as follows: an Iron Age coin (quarter stater), which was found in 2023 in the Test Valley in Hampshire, England. The coin bears an inscription: IISVNIIRTOS (Esunertos). Gold, 12.65 mm x 11.75 mm x 2.65 mm. The coin was likely minted around 40–30 BCE.
3. Provenance: found in the Test Valley (Hampshire), 12 March 2023. The coin was found before the commencement of The Treasure Designation (Amendment) Order 2023 on 30 July 2023. The 2023 Order designated a new class of treasure based on the significance of finds which would not otherwise be defined as treasure. As a single gold coin this find would not have met the definition of treasure at the time it was found, but could have been referred to the coroner, who has responsibility for deciding whether objects meet the legal definition, as possibly meeting the significance definition if it had been found after 30 July 2023.
4. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by the Arts Council (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.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 31 July 2024.

Lisa Nandy sets out vision for unlocking growth and opportunity in the UK’s £170 billion culture, media and sport sectors.

• In her maiden speech, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy sets out vision for unlocking growth and opportunity in the UK’s £170 billion culture, media and sport sectors
• Event brings together more than 150 organisations including Warner Bros, Amazon, BBC, Paramount, Premier League, Sky, Channel 4, Royal Shakespeare Company in Manchester
• Nandy calls on DCMS sectors to help contribute to the government’s national growth mission, bringing people together and improving living standards in more villages, towns and cities

The Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has brought together leaders representing more than 150 strategically important organisations – spanning the creative industries, sport, media, youth services, tourism and the arts – at a summit in Manchester (Wednesday 31 July) to invite them to work with DCMS in delivering the Government’s national mission of economic growth over the next five years.

The event at Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum – the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution – highlights the Government’s clear statement of intent on widening opportunity outside of London and building closer partnerships with businesses across the whole country.

In her first major speech, she emphasised the social and economic potential of DCMS sectors for national renewal. Lisa Nandy told the audience:

Through our investment in grassroots sport and our determination that the legacy of the Paris Olympics and Euro 2024 is measured not just in trophies but in choices and chances for every child wherever they live and whatever their background.

Through our partnerships with our Mayors, Councils, Businesses and Charities to put rocket boosters under our growing industries – film and theatre, TV, fashion, video games, heritage and tourism – to take the brakes off the economy, create opportunity for every child and export our incredible talent to the world.

And through my drive to ensure the public appointments we make truly reflect our country in all its glorious diversity. Not to fulfil a quota, but to ensure that our government draws on the creative might of all of our people.

This is the first in a series of events that DCMS Ministers will carry out around the country to engage DCMS sectors, which are worth more than £170 billion and support more than four million jobs. The UK creative industries alone are worth £125 billion – more to the economy than life sciences, automotive manufacturing, aerospace and the oil and gas sectors combined.

On writing communities back into a new national story, and enhancing these sectors as vehicles for economic growth in all parts of the UK, the Culture Secretary said:

When we turn to face the nation again in 5 years time, it is our ambition that we will face a self-confident country, at ease with itself, where all our people see themselves in the story we tell ourselves about ourselves as a nation – and our contribution is seen and valued.

And my message to each and every one of you is that if you share that belief in our country. If you have that zest. If you want to challenge us and are willing to be challenged in turn.

Then I promise you. That we will walk alongside you. We will have your back. And we will give voice to the country many of us have believed in all our lifetime but never quite yet seen.

The speech comes after the Culture Secretary recently announced an end to politically-driven culture wars, a commitment to the television licence fee for the remainder of the current Charter period until 2027 and plans to support grassroots football clubs to ensure that girls and boys across the country get more access to gold standard facilities. The Government has also announced plans to introduce an independent football regulator as soon as possible, that will ensure clubs across England are financially sustainable and fans are given a greater say in the way their clubs are run.

Organisations with representatives at the summit include:

• Warner Bros.
• Discovery
• Paramount
• Amazon Prime Video
• BBC
• Channel 4
• ITV, Sky
• News UK
• Reach, Daily Mail General Trust
• Global
• Society of Editors
• News Media Association
• Google Play
• British Cycling
• Sport England
• Kick It Out
• Premier League
• Rugby Football League
• English Football League
• Arts Council England
• Society of London Theatres
• HarperNorth
• Writers’ Guild Of Great Britain
• Royal Opera House
• Royal Shakespeare Company *Southbank Centre
• Association of British Orchestras
• Creative Industries Council
• Musicians’ Union
• Creative UK
• UK Music
• National Gallery
• Association of Independent Museums
• Science Museum
• National Portrait Gallery
• Tate
• British Library
• Royal College of Music
• London Philharmonic Orchestra
• Birmingham Royal Ballet
• English National Opera
• Merlin Entertainments
• UK Hospitality
• Visit Britain
• O2 Arena
• Prince’s Trust
• Duke of Edinburgh Award
• British Council
• Also in attendance are regional museums such as Birmingham, Derby, Sheffield and Manchester.

The Culture Secretary also met young people representing Girlguiding and the National Citizen Service, as well as local Manchester youth group HideOut Youth Zone, who are currently working with the Science Museum on an exhibition.

Managing Director Prime Video UK Chris Bird said:

The UK is a creative industries powerhouse with a rightly deserved reputation for producing some of the world’s greatest artists, authors, producers and technicians. Across TV, film, books, music, sport and more, Amazon has invested more than £4 billion in the Creative Industries across the UK since 2010 and we welcome the Government’s ambitions for continued growth in the sector.

Prime Video’s reach and impact extend nationwide, with productions from The Rig and Fear in Scotland, to Mammals in Cornwall and multiple productions in the North West of the UK, and last week we announced the acquisition of the iconic Bray Studio. Our £10 million skills, training and education, programme; Prime Video Pathway, is designed to open up access to the arts for people from every corner of the country too. The creative industries are driving material long-term growth, creating and developing exciting and fulfilling careers, and we look forward to partnering with the Government to continue this growth and fuel the ambitions for the next generation of UK creatives.

Andrew Georgiou, President and Managing Director, Warner Bros. Discovery U.K & Ireland and WBD Sports Europe, said:

Warner Bros. Discovery has a proud UK heritage – present for over 90 years, with a significant employee base which extends North to South across 5 cities. The UK is our biggest base outside of the US and, in our view, one of the best places in the world to do business. We remain committed to the UK and our ambition to grow and strengthen our sector.  It is only in partnership that we can continue to make standout British content, support and develop British creatives, and bring the British public access to the best in film, TV, gaming, streaming, news, sport and more.  We look forward to a continued and productive relationship between Government and the industry.

Darren Henley, Arts Council England Chief Executive said:

Our artists, arts organisations, museums and libraries are among our country’s greatest assets. Their creativity unlocks a world that enables everyone to imagine and experience life beyond the everyday. But they do so much more to increase our national happiness: they bring communities together, help people maintain their mental health, provide skilled and fulfilling jobs, and boost the economy. The Arts Council is determined to make sure that everyone can enjoy these benefits, no matter where they live or what their background. We look forward to working with the new government and the Secretary of State in service of our audiences, participants and visitors to raise the nation’s spirit and nurture its soul.

Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England said:

England has world class heritage at the heart of every community and it’s an engine for good growth, helping people and places flourish. We wholeheartedly support the Culture Secretary’s vision to boost the economy by using what makes our villages, towns and cities special, because we know it works; heritage is a catalyst for regeneration and boosting local pride. And historic places matter to people, with 93% of people agreeing that local heritage raises their quality of life – it makes people feel good. Let’s use it to make our country better and fairer for everyone.

Andrew Leveson Royal Shakespeare Company Executive Director and Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey, Co-Artistic Directors said:

We welcome the Culture Secretary’s ambitions for unlocking economic growth and opening up opportunity and access to the arts for everyone, wherever they live. Through our many partnerships nationwide with schools, theatres and communities in areas of structural disadvantage, we know that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. We have significant statistical evidence about the positive difference that arts and culture can make to individual lives, whole schools and communities. There’s much to do to make sure the arts & cultural sector continues its vital contribution to our society, our economy, and to showcasing the UK on the global stage. We look forward to working with the DCMS team and wider government departments to grow and amplify this impact.

Sir Ian Blatchford, Director of the Science Museum Group said:

We are honoured to host this event at the Science and Industry Museum, one of our four national museums in the north of England that are in the midst of transformation, delivered with local partners in communities striving for growth. The Culture Secretary is right to point to our role in building a stronger economy. Museums are engines for innovation, they drive tourism and as our colleagues support a better future by igniting young people’s curiosity about science, our work across the globe is increasing the UK’s international clout today.

Andrew Lovett OBE, Chair of the Association of Independent Museums said:

Independent museums welcome nearly 20 million visitors annually to the bustling city centres and beautiful rural settings they are found in across the UK. Powered by thousands of passionate staff and volunteers, they sit proud at the heart of the places and the communities they serve. The stories they tell not only represent and engage us but help make sense of the world and our place in it. At the Association of Independent Museums, we’re excited to get to work with DCMS on unlocking the power of museums and heritage to stimulate economic growth and ensuring that everyone can benefit from our rich history and promising future.

Sarah Elliott, Chief Executive Officer at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations said:

Charities aren’t just a force for good, they’re also a force for growth. Our sector is a major employer that makes a vital contribution to the UK economy – adding an estimated £200bn, including the value that our army of amazing volunteers bring. Whether it’s through our sector’s work on housing, skills, health or education, to name a few, the incredible range of services charities deliver help broaden opportunities, support more people into work, and enable society to be more economically active. Through early collaboration with charities, government can help even more people live happy, healthy and fulfilling lives, while also achieving its mission of growing a sustainable economy that works for all.

Sanjay Bhandari, Chair of Kick it Out said:

Football is the lifeblood of the country, and runs deep into our society, but we know there is more untapped talent to emerge from under-represented communities. We’ve been working hard to develop that talent through our programmes and using our voice to ensure that those communities are heard and can play their part in growing the game even further.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 26 July 2024.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport ministers and portfolio details.

The Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

• Overall responsibility for strategy and policy across the department

Sir Chris Bryant MP, Minister for Creative Industries, Arts, and Tourism:

• Arts and Libraries
• Creative Industries
• Museums and cultural property
• Cultural diplomacy and soft power
• Tourism
• Heritage

Stephanie Peacock MP, Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth

• Sport
• Media
• Civil Society
• Youth
• Ceremonials

Baroness Fiona Twycross, Minister for Gambling

• Gambling

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 26 July 2024.

The Flow Country has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Site to become world’s first peatland bog to gain world heritage status
Becomes Scotland’s first natural world heritage site, joining the likes of the Grand Canyon and the Great Barrier Reef
The Flow Country has become the UK’s newest UNESCO World Heritage Site, having been granted the accolade today, at the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee.

The landscape, which is widely considered to be the largest area of blanket bog in the world covering around 1,500 square miles in Caithness and Sutherland, has become the UK’s 35th UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the world’s first ever peatland site to gain world heritage status.

The site will also become Scotland’s first natural world heritage site and joins a very exclusive list of natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including The Grand Canyon and The Great Barrier Reef.

It will be the seventh Scottish site, joining St Kilda and the Forth Bridge, which attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to Scotland.

Due to the nature of the site, this listing is also expected to bring new opportunities for local people through the creation of green jobs in landscape restoration and conservation.

The Flow Country is home to a wide range of wetland and moorland species, including many birds, such as the red-throated diver, golden eagle and short-eared owl and has been considered to be of outstanding universal value due to its remarkable diversity, the home that it provides for these species and the role it plays in storing approximately 400 million tonnes of carbon in the north of Scotland.

The news follows the announcement of Gracehill in Northern Ireland receiving World Heritage Status, making this the second new addition to the list of UK World Heritage Sites today.

UK Government Culture Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

It is fantastic to see the UK adding two new sites to the World Heritage List in the space of a day – of historical and natural significance respectively.

The Flow Country is one of our most precious resources, as a vital habitat for many species and a key site for carbon capture that continues to inform our understanding of how blanket bog can be used to help mitigate climate change.

It is right to recognise this truly inspiring landscape and I look forward to working closely with counterparts in Scotland to showcase this important addition to our UK World Heritage Sites.

Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said:

Scotland has a rich history of UNESCO World Heritage sites with six spread across our country from Heart of Neolithic Orkney to New Lanark, the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh to St Kilda and I am delighted the Flow Country has become Scotland’s seventh.

Thanks to a strong endorsement from the UK Government the Flow Country, which has international importance as a habitat and for the diverse range of rare and unusual breeding birds it supports, is now the first peatland site on the World Heritage list.

Acting Scottish Government Net Zero Secretary Gillian Martin said:

This is a truly momentous day for Caithness and Sutherland, and indeed Scotland as a whole.

The Flow Country is an area of truly outstanding natural beauty and its diverse ecosystems and peatlands are a vital part of our efforts to combat climate change and nature loss. This new global prominence will help preserve the area for many generations to come.

I want to congratulate the Flow Country Partnership and everyone who has worked so hard towards this tremendous achievement. Their passion and determination has not only elevated the Flow Country to UNESCO World Heritage Status, but has ensured its protection far into the future.

Bid lead for the Flow Country World Heritage Site project and NatureScot Head of Operations for the North of Scotland, Graham Neville, said:

World Heritage status for the Flow Country is a momentous moment for Scotland’s people and their beloved landscape. This successful bid is testament to the hard work and determination of the Flow Country World Heritage project team as well as community members, scientific experts, businesses, landowners and public bodies from across the Flow Country who have been so generous with their time, knowledge and expertise to shape the bid for the benefit of the whole area. World Heritage Site status will lead to greater understanding of the Flow Country and raise the profile of Scotland’s peatlands globally for their value as biodiverse habitats and important carbon sinks. It is a wonderful recognition of the expert stewardship of farmers and crofters in maintaining this incredible ecosystem as a natural legacy for future generations.

Professor Mike Robinson, Non-Executive Director, Culture at the United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO says:

We are delighted that the Flow Country has been inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in recognition of its Outstanding Universal Value. World Heritage status recognises the global importance of the Flow Country and its peat bogs, not only as an important ecosystem for wildlife but also, through their carbon storage, as a critical defence against the impact of climate change. In this sense, World Heritage and the protection afforded to it will contribute directly to sustainable development.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport is responsible for meeting the requirements of the World Heritage Convention within the UK. This includes maintaining and reviewing the Tentative List of sites, formally nominating new sites, and ensuring existing sites are conserved, protected and given a life in the community.

The other UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Scotland are St. Kilda, Edinburgh Old Town and New Town, The Heart of Neolithic Orkney, New Lanark, The Antonine Wall and The Forth Bridge.

The first UNESCO World Heritage Sites were announced in 1986. The full list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the UK and Overseas Territories are:

Cultural:

• Blaenavon Industrial Landscape (2000)
• Blenheim Palace (1987)
• Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine’s Abbey, and St Martin’s Church (1988)
• Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd (1986)
• City of Bath (1987)
• Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape (2006)
• Derwent Valley Mills (2001)
• Durham Castle and Cathedral (1986)
• Frontiers of the Roman Empire (1987,2005,2008)
• Gorham’s Cave Complex (2016)
• Heart of Neolithic Orkney (1999)
• Historic Town of St George and Related Fortifications, Bermuda (2000)
• Ironbridge Gorge (1986)
• Maritime Greenwich (1997)
• New Lanark (2001)
• Old and New Towns of Edinburgh (1995)
• Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey including Saint Margaret’s Church (1987)
• Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal (2009)
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (2003)
• Saltaire (2001)
• Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales (2021)
• Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites (1986)
• Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey (1986)
• The English Lake District (2017)
• The Forth Bridge (2015)
• The Great Spa Towns of Europe (2021)
• Tower of London (1988)
• Jodrell Bank Observatory (2019)

Natural:

• Dorset and East Devon Coast (2001)
• Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast (1986)
• Gough and Inaccessible Islands (1995,2004)
• Henderson Island (1988)

Mixed:

• St Kilda (1986,2004, 2005)

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 26 July 2024.

Moravian Church settlement in the Georgian village of Gracehill, Northern Ireland has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Settlement becomes Northern Ireland’s second UNESCO World Heritage Site and the 34th UNESCO World Heritage Site in the UK
Joins the likes of the Taj Mahal, the Grand Canyon National Park and Machu Picchu on the World Heritage List
The Gracehill Moravian Church settlement in County Antrim has become the UK’s newest UNESCO World Heritage Site at the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee today.

The site was nominated as part of a transnational effort led by the United States to achieve World Heritage Status for Moravian Church settlements founded in the 18th century, alongside other sites in Herrnhut, Germany and Bethlehem in the United States.

Each of these settlements exemplifies the Moravian Church’s spiritual, societal, and ethical ideals that aimed at the creation of a religious community and found expression in a distinctive style of town planning and architecture.

Founded in 1759, Gracehill includes distinctive Moravian buildings, including a particular type of congregation building known as Gemeinhaus, a church, choir houses and a cemetery. There is an active congregation present at the site today, who continue Moravian traditions.

Gracehill is the best preserved example of a settlement representing the Moravian ideal in the UK and Ireland and the only example built on the island of Ireland, with its urban plan clustered around a central green square.

It becomes Northern Ireland’s second UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the first being Giant’s Causeway, which was listed in 1986.

UK Government Culture Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

Gracehill has been rightly cherished by the local community since its foundation in 1759 as a town built around the central values of equality and tolerance and I am glad to see it gain the recognition that it deserves.

I look forward to working together with the international community and my counterparts in Northern Ireland to celebrate the Gracehill site and ensure the Moravian traditions live on to be passed onto future generations.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Fleur Anderson, said:

I am delighted to see the Moravian Church settlement becoming a new member of the globally renowned list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

This is an exciting moment for the community of Gracehill and a huge achievement for everyone involved in the bid. The significance of it is carried throughout Northern Ireland and the whole United Kingdom.

Northern Ireland has a rich heritage and is home to many culturally significant sites, and I have no doubt this accolade will encourage more visitors to come and see them for themselves.

Northern Ireland Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said:

I am delighted that the cultural importance of Gracehill to the world has been recognised through the UNESCO designation.  In recent years, my department has worked with the Gracehill community to maintain the village and develop their World Heritage bid. We have supported listed building repairs and provided advice and, since the US formally decided to proceed in 2021, we have contributed to the nomination costs. Gracehill is a special place with an active community and this recognition of a small village on the world stage is a great endorsement, helping to remind us all that Northern Ireland has a fascinating heritage that is well worth exploring.

Dr David Johnston, Chair of Gracehill Trust said,

The prize of a cultural World Heritage listing is a huge good news story for Northern Ireland as a whole, something that everyone can share in and be proud of, with the potential to promote understanding and reconciliation and bring social, economic and cultural benefits right across the region now and for generations to come.

We are fortunate and thankful to have had the enthusiastic support of the whole community, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, the Northern Ireland Department for Communities and the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport as well as the enthusiasm of our international partners.

Professor Mike Robinson, Non-Executive Director, Culture at the United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO said:

We are delighted that the Moravian Church Settlements, including Gracehill in Northern Ireland, Herrnhut in Germany, and Bethlehem in the United States of America, have been inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in recognition of their Outstanding Universal Value. Along with Christiansfeld, a Moravian Church Settlement (Denmark) that was inscribed onto the World Heritage List in 2015, the inscription not only represents the international reach of the Moravian community, but also highlights the opportunities, where appropriate, for World Heritage transnational-serial nominations to bring communities together through their shared histories.

Notes to editors:

The UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport is responsible for meeting the requirements of the World Heritage Convention within the UK. This includes maintaining and reviewing the Tentative List of sites, formally nominating new sites, and ensuring existing sites are conserved, protected and given a life in the community.

The first UNESCO World Heritage Sites were announced in 1986. The full list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the UK and Overseas Territories are:

Cultural:

• Blaenavon Industrial Landscape (2000)
• Blenheim Palace (1987)
• Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine’s Abbey, and St Martin’s Church (1988)
• Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd (1986)
• City of Bath (1987)
• Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape (2006)
• Derwent Valley Mills (2001)
• Durham Castle and Cathedral (1986)
• Frontiers of the Roman Empire (1987,2005,2008)
• Gorham’s Cave Complex (2016)
• Heart of Neolithic Orkney (1999)
• Historic Town of St George and Related Fortifications, Bermuda (2000)
• Ironbridge Gorge (1986)
• Maritime Greenwich (1997)
• New Lanark (2001)
• Old and New Towns of Edinburgh (1995)
• Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey including Saint Margaret’s Church (1987)
• Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal (2009)
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (2003)
• Saltaire (2001)
• Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales (2021)
• Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites (1986)
• Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey (1986)
• The English Lake District (2017)
• The Forth Bridge (2015)
• The Great Spa Towns of Europe (2021)
• Tower of London (1988)
• Jodrell Bank Observatory (2019)

Natural:

• Dorset and East Devon Coast (2001)
• Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast (1986)
• Gough and Inaccessible Islands (1995,2004)
• Henderson Island (1988)

Mixed:

• St Kilda (1986,2004, 2005)

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 15 July 2024.

Government to commit to supporting grassroots facilities that nurture our future football stars, and recognising the people who make that happen.

Girls and boys across the country to get more access to football to ensure legacy of UEFA EURO 2024 performance
Review of curriculum to protect time for PE and legislation to be brought forward to limit the number of kit items schools can require
The Government has set out plans to support the next generation of footballers in honour of the Three Lions’ achievement of reaching the UEFA EURO 2024 final against Spain last night.

This follows the recent high profile achievements of the Lionesses who took home the UEFA EURO 2022 trophy, and reached the final in last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.

To mark the achievements of our senior men’s and women’s teams, and inspire the next generation as we look ahead to hosting UEFA EURO 2028 across the UK and Ireland, the Government has set out plans to strengthen its support for grassroots football clubs and ensure that all children have access to sports at school.

This will help to ensure talent thrives wherever it is found and support a healthier nation – aligning with the missions to break down barriers to opportunity and build an NHS fit for the future.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

The Three Lions and the Lionesses have brought the nation so much joy over the last years. The men’s team have excited and gripped us all with their talent and determination in never giving up.

Playing each week, I know the importance and joy that football and sport more widely brings to so many people. Inspired by the Three Lions, we are breaking down the barriers to opportunity which stops the new generation of footballers from taking to the field and will celebrate those who keep the beautiful game alive in our communities and clubs.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

The whole country is incredibly proud of England’s performance at Euro 2024 in reaching the final and we congratulate Spain as winners. The Three Lions have once again been a huge inspiration for our future lions and lionesses.

We will make sure that the legacy of recent successes are genuinely felt in communities, far and wide across the country. We’re absolutely committed to making sure every child has access to the sports they love both in schools and in grassroots clubs to not just help uncover the next generation of stars but to help create a healthier nation and change lives for the better.

Grassroots football clubs are at the beating heart of communities up and down the country. As we look forward from this moment to EURO 2028, the Government will put these clubs front and centre with a commitment to continued funding for grassroots facilities.

High-quality, inclusive facilities help clubs to get more people active and by backing these clubs, the Government will support more people to get onto the pitch wherever they live.

The government will support the Football Association in their ambition to double their number of gold-standard (3-star) community clubs by the time the first ball is kicked at EURO 2028 in June of that year. These clubs represent the best of community football – delivering more opportunities for women and girls and disabled players to get on the pitch, as well as playing an active role in local communities.

The Football Foundation will also be supported to continue their Home Advantage Programme. The scheme will support the transfer of the ownership and maintenance of grassroots football pitches directly to hundreds of clubs and community organisations, relieving the burden on local councils. This not only means improved facilities and a better playing experience – it means thriving community clubs which are inclusive and fit for the future. The programme will be open to cricket, rugby union and rugby league as well, spreading the benefits far beyond football.

The Government will work with football – including our Football Foundation partners, the Football Association and Premier League – to develop a funding package that will support these plans, which will be set out in due course.

We will also celebrate the service and commitment of those who keep grassroots football alive, and nurture the England stars of the future. Without the coaches, referees, groundskeepers and volunteers in grassroots football, there is no international success and the Prime Minister will look to recognise their work in the coming weeks and months.

The Government is also committed to protecting time for physical education in schools. The upcoming expert-led review of the curriculum will ensure that no child misses out on a broad range of subjects, including PE and sport.

Another barrier to children’s participation is often the need for costly branded PE kit as part of a school’s uniform policy. Whilst school uniform can play a vital role in helping set an appropriate tone for learning, instil a sense of belonging and act as a social leveller, it is clear that for many families the cost of school uniform, including PE kit, remains a financial hardship.

Parents should not have to think about the cost of a school uniform when choosing which school to apply for and no child should be excluded or discouraged from taking part in PE because they don’t have the right kit.

The Government will also be taking action to legislate to limit the number of items of branded uniform and PE kit that schools can require, helping reduce costs for parents and removing barriers to children accessing sport.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 19 June 2024.

A temporary export bar has been placed on a decorated table top once owned by King Louis XIV of France.

• The table top is valued at more than £7 million
• The export bar will allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the table top for the nation

An export bar has been placed on a richly adorned table top once owned by Louis XIV, King of France.

The table top, valued at £7,500,000 (plus VAT of £300,000), is at risk of leaving the UK unless a domestic buyer can be found to save it for the nation.

The table top is made of 111 panels of masterfully worked glass, using a mixture of filigree, or coloured canes of glass fused together, and pictorial panels made using the lampwork and casting technique. The glass panels are framed by a structure of gilded metalwork.

The pictorial panels depict a scene from the mythological story of the Judgement of Paris, as well as classical gods and goddesses, alongside scenes of hunting, flora and fauna.

The table top was listed in the inventory of furniture belonging to Louis XIV and has been attributed to one the most prominent and inventive glassmakers in France in the second half of the 17th century, Bernard Perrot of Orléans.

The decision to place an export bar on the item follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest. The committee made its recommendation on the basis that the table top met the second and third Waverley criteria for its outstanding aesthetic importance, and its outstanding significance to the study of the work of Bernard Perrot and other émigré glassmakers working in France in the 17th century.

It was also deemed to be of outstanding significance to the study of interiors in France, decorative art design, and the history of British industrialist collecting.

Committee Member Helen Jacobsen said:

Perrot’s stunning table top is unprecedented in the history of glass and of 17th-century decorative art. Its technical mastery and striking design have ensured its place as a masterpiece since it was first recorded in the collections of Louis XIV in 1681 and in its sophistication and artistic ambition the table is unsurpassed.

It is of enormous importance as a documentary milestone, both in Perrot’s career and in the technical development of 17th-century glass-making, and the opportunities for future research into materials and techniques, as well as design, interiors and collecting more generally, are enormous. The impact of the table top as an aesthetic object cannot be overstated and I really hope that it can find a home in a UK museum where it can be admired and enjoyed by the widest possible audience.

The decision on the export licence application for the table top will be deferred for a period ending on 18 October 2024 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 table top at the recommended price of £7,500,000 (plus VAT of £300,000 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 six months.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 19 June 2024.

A temporary export bar has been placed on a silk banner commemorating the Slavery Abolition Act 1833.

• The banner is valued at £45,000
• Export bar is to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to save the banner for the nation

An export bar has been placed on a silk banner commemorating the Slavery Abolition Act 1833.

The banner, valued at £45,000 (plus VAT of £9,000 which can be reclaimed by an eligible institution) is at risk of leaving the UK unless a domestic buyer can be found to acquire it for the nation.

The banner commemorates the abolition of slavery on 1 August 1834, following the passing of the Slavery Abolition Act by Earl Grey’s administration.

The marching banner, measured at 97 centimetres high and 89 centimetres wide, is made from dark blue silk lettered with gold, with a cotton backing. It retains the original wooden dowel hanger and has silk tassels.

Whilst there is no exact confirmation of when the banner was created, it is likely to have been made within a decade of 1834 and before the abolition of slavery in the USA in 1865 following the American Civil War (1861-1864).

The decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest. The banner was found to meet the first and third Waverley criteria, on the grounds that its departure from the UK would be a misfortune because it was so closely connected with our history and national life and was of outstanding significance to the study of social justice and social and political history.

Committee member Caroline Shenton said:

“As this country continues to grapple with the legacies of the British Empire and the enslavement of millions across its colonies, artefacts which shed light on this history are powerful witnesses to the past. Commemorative objects related to the abolition of slavery in the Empire are not uncommon but this banner is unique, as far as we know.

“Thanks to the temporary stop placed on its export, there is now an opportunity for a public institution to acquire it for the nation. There is much to research about who created this fluttering piece of gold and navy textile, and why, and where; about how it was used and deployed; and about its place within decolonising narratives exposing the political, social and economic ambiguities of abolition. But as well as its potential for scholarly exploration, this banner could become a profound means of public engagement as Britain’s reckoning with its slave-owning past continues. I therefore very much hope that a suitable home for this striking banner is found within this country, and soon.”

The decision on the export licence application for the banner will be deferred for a period ending on 18 August 2024 (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 banner at the recommended price of £45,000 (plus VAT of £9,000 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 three months.

Notes to editors

1. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the banner should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk .
2. Details of the object are as follows: a marching banner commemorating the abolition of slavery on  August 1st, 1834, and citing the statute for an Act for the Abolition of Slavery throughout the British colonies. The banner, 97 cm high and 89 cm wide, is made from dark blue silk and cotton lettered in gold. It retains the original wooden dowel hanger and has silk tassels. The maker is unknown. The date on the object confers a terminus post quem of 1834 and was probably made within a decade of that but certainly before the abolition of slavery in the USA in 1865 following the Civil War (1861-1864).  The banner is in good condition with some slight wear on the tassels.
3. Provenance: London Private Collection.
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.

The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 19 June 2024.

A temporary export bar has been placed on the 19th century volumes of ‘A history of the birds of Europe’ by H. E. Dresser.

• Volumes valued at nearly £130,000
• Export bar is to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the work

An export bar has been placed on the 19th century volumes of ‘A history of the birds of Europe’ by H. E. Dresser.

The books have a recommended price of £127,000 and are at risk of leaving the UK unless a domestic buyer can be found to acquire them for the nation.

Henry Eeles Dresser (1838-1915) is considered to be one of the most influential ornithologists of the late 19th century. His work was cited by the likes of John Gould in his The Birds of Great Britain, and he published major articles on the subject of ornithology that helped progress the study of the behaviour of birds as a science.

Dresser used many leading bird illustrators to create the lithographic plates for the imagery that would accompany his text within these volumes. This particular set was Dresser’s private and unique copy which he had specially printed. They include the original colour proofs painted by the artists, which were used to produce all other published copies of the volumes.

The decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest. The Committee made its recommendation on the basis that the volumes met the third Waverley criterion for their outstanding significance to the study of book publishing and printing technique, as well as ornithological representation, illustration, and annotation. They were also found to be of outstanding significance to the study of Dresser’s own collection.

Committee member Mark Hallett said:

This remarkable private edition of H. E. Dresser’s celebrated ‘A History of the Birds of Europe’ offers a rich research resource for all those interested in the history of ornithology and in the visual representation of birdlife in nineteenth-century Britain. Published for the author, and featuring numerous written annotations by Dresser himself, this series of seventeen volumes is further distinguished by the hundreds of original, hand-coloured plates that illustrate his text, produced by some of the leading wildlife artists of the day.

If saved for the UK, this unique version of ‘A History of the Birds of Europe’ would not only serve as a scholarly treasure-trove in its own right; it would also provide the perfect complement to the major Dresser archive of ornithological specimens held at the Manchester Museum.

The decision on the export licence application for the volumes will be deferred for a period ending on 18 September 2024 (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 volumes at the recommended price of £127,000. The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for three months.

Notes to editors

1. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the volumes should contact the RCEWA on 0845 300 6200.
2. Details of the volumes are as follows: 17 volumes comprising 9 volumes of text (including index and supplement) and 8 volumes of plates. Large quarto size (320 x 250 mm). Author’s own unique copy with signed bookplate.
3. Provenance: Private collection of the author of the volumes, Henry Eeles Dresser (1838–1915) of which they were his own copy. They hold his bookplate and his signature, to index volume.
4. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by the Arts Council (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.