Tag: Department for Culture and Media

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 23 December 2023.

Public encouraged to propose festive traditions, such as Christmas pantomime and carol-singing, as well as others from all year round, for formal recognition as mainstays of UK culture.

• UK to ratify 2003 UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
• Public consultation launched to inform UK’s approach to creating a new register for traditions valued by communities up and down the country

Communities across the UK will be able to nominate their most cherished local traditions to be included in a new register of cultural heritage in the UK.

Festive favourites, such as pantomime, carol-singing and the art of making a Christmas wreath could all be formally recognised – as could others from throughout the year, such sea shanties, cèilidh and calligraphy.

Seasonal celebrations taking place at Patron Saints’ days, Hogmanay, Burns Night, Shrove Tuesday, and the Welsh tradition of holding Eisteddfodau, where all cultural activities including singing and spoken word are conducted in the Welsh language, could also be included.

Traditions that are central to the rich tapestry which makes up the UK’s many cultures and identity – from Highland dancing to bagpipe playing, cheese-rolling and the male voice choirs of the Welsh valleys – are expected to also be put forward for a UK-wide official inventory. This could also include traditions brought to the UK by immigrant communities, such as Notting Hill Carnival and steel-drumming.

Artisanal crafts such as basket-weaving, thatching and the arts of creating tartan and tweed, as well as the practitioners of these traditions, will also be considered.

It comes as the UK Government has confirmed its intention to ratify the 2003 UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which seeks to protect the crafts, practices, and traditions which are recognised as being key part of national life and providing a sense of identity to communities across the UK.

These practices are often also referred to as ‘intangible cultural heritage’ or ‘living heritage’ and are inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants.

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

The UK is rich in traditions which are passed down from generation to generation.

These crafts, customs, and celebrations have helped to shape our communities and bring people together, who continue to shape them in turn.

By ratifying this Convention, we will be able to celebrate treasured traditions from every corner of the UK, support the people who practise them, and ensure they are passed down for future generations to enjoy.

By ratifying the Convention, the UK Government will be able to recognise our most important crafts and traditions in the same way as we have considered our physical heritage sites such as the Giant’s Causeway, Fountains Abbey, and the Tower of London.

As intangible cultural heritage can only be considered as such when it is recognised by the communities, groups or individuals that create, maintain and share it, it will be these groups and people who will be able to nominate the UK’s cherished traditions to be formally recognised.

A public consultation launched today will seek the public’s views on the UK Government’s proposed approach to implementing the Convention across the UK to safeguard valued traditions. This will include the approach to how people will be able to nominate traditions, how they will be adjudicated, and any criteria that the nominated practices will need to meet before they are considered.

The UK Government has been working closely with the Devolved Administrations, the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories in the run up to this decision, and will continue to do so in order to implement the Convention and collate the UK-wide inventory, which is expected to launch for nominations next year.

UK Government minister for Scotland, John Lamont, said:

Hogmanay, Burns Night and ceilidh dancing are Scottish traditions celebrated across the world and now we will be able to give them recognition alongside those from around the UK as part of this international convention.

I encourage communities across the country to nominate their local traditions that will be ratified and help to preserve them for generations to come.

Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said:

We have a huge number of wonderful traditions and customs in Wales that help make our nation unique and distinct and it’s great that many of these will now be formally recorded and recognised.

It’s important to preserve and protect living heritage, as well as physical landmarks and heritage sites, to pass onto future generations and maintain our special Welsh culture.

Minister of State for Northern Ireland Steve Baker said:

Northern Ireland has a rich culture, and I welcome this initiative to enable communities to nominate what matters to them for recognition.

This is a great opportunity to ensure the UK’s cultural heritage is preserved for the benefit of future generations.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 22 December 2023.

Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme supporting the protection of religious buildings representing all faiths and denominations, benefiting local communities.

• Cash boost comes as more than a million people across the country expected to attend Midnight Mass and Christmas Day services in their local church
• Since 2010, the Government has returned £346 million to listed churches, synagogues, mosques and temples

Nearly 5,000 religious buildings in the United Kingdom have received a share of up to £42 million in public funding ahead of this year’s festive celebrations, as the Government continues its support for the conservation of listed places of worship across the country.

As more than one million people are expected to attend Midnight Mass and Christmas Day services, they might be attending one of the 4,900 places of worship which have benefited from Government support over the last year to ease the cost of essential conservation and maintenance work.

Beneficiaries of the scheme this year include:

• Leicester Cathedral in Leicester, which has received more than £600,000 to restore the historic building, including renewing the cathedral’s heating, lighting and electrics and creating a heritage learning centre for visitors from the local community and beyond;
• the 11th-century Chichester Cathedral in Chichester, which has received more than £195,000 for its roof and lighting projects. The cash from the Listed Places of Worship Fund has also supported organ repair and maintenance, new fire and intruder alarms, and support with other major projects to protect this Norman building;
• the 12th-century Collegiate Church of St Mary in Warwick, which has been granted over £141,500 to repair the ancient tower, including work on the clocks and faces. Funding also supported the maintenance of electric and heating systems as well as new security and alarm systems;
• the Grade II*-listed All Saints’ Church in Wokingham, which has received £112,000 to rebuild the Copeman Hart organ and install new speakers. New underfloor heating was installed alongside an accessible toilet and entrance;
• Salford Cathedral, which has received more than £452,000 for a series of works to protect the long-term safety of the 19th-century building, including refurbishment of the roof, new insulation, replacement windows and doors, and new lighting;
• Llandaff Cathedral, originally opened in 1290, which has received more than £67,000 for design and work to replace the current heating and lighting system;
• Netherlee and Stamperland Parish Church, East Renfrewshire, which has received £104,000 for works to refurbish the sanctuary roof with works to the masonry, gutters, downpipes, lead works and drains;
• Shankill Parish Church, Lurgan, Craigavon, which received £92,000 to fund the repair of dry rot, the roof and the lightning conductor on the church’s spire.

To mark the impact of the scheme over the last twelve months, Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay visited St Mary’s Church in Hitchin, Hertfordshire to see how the more than £5,000 it has received has helped to support works on the church’s bells.

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

As churches across the country fill up for Nativity plays and Christmas services, it’s a reminder of the huge role that they and other places of worship play in the lives of their community.

The Listed Places of Worship Scheme supports these precious buildings, which are cherished by people of all faiths and none.

With nearly 5,000 supported over the past year alone, I’m glad to see the difference it has made to visitors, worshippers, and the people who look after them for the benefit of future generations.

Anne King, leader of the “spaceforall” community project at All Saints’ Church in Wokingham said:

We simply could not have done the work without the VAT grant. The refund of £250,000 was essential, and, importantly for our cash flow, always paid promptly. We can now run concerts, community drop ins and a lively café as well as enjoying worship in beautiful surroundings.

Karen Rooms, Dean Designate of Leicester Cathedral said:

The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme is providing vital grant support covering the VAT we incur on the extensive repair work being carried out on our Grade II* listed building as part of our Leicester Cathedral Revealed project. We are very grateful for this support which is an essential part of the overall funding package.

Elizabeth Cranfield, Churchwarden, St Mary’s Church, Hitchin said:

We are very grateful to this scheme for the grants that we have received over the last few years. The works have included – replacing crumbling stonework; repairs to leaking roofs and gutters; recasting of the tenor bell and provision of rope guides greatly improving the sound and handling of the ring of 12 bells; installation of a roof alarm. These grants have significantly reduced the cost to St Mary’s. It has been easy to use the Scheme and it has undoubtedly supported our vision to keep St Mary’s as a beautiful place of Christian witness for the town and beyond.

Ruth Bamford, Communar and Bursar for Chichester Cathedral said:

The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme has enabled many projects at Chichester Cathedral. Our fundraising arm, the Chichester Cathedral Restoration and Development Trust, do a fantastic job but without the ability to recover VAT through the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, they would have to fundraise for VAT charges. Funders would rather see their investment go towards something tangible rather than towards taxes.

Recent projects supported by the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme include the complete replacement of the old leaky copper roof with a new lead one. We are also upgrading the Cathedral’s internal lighting scheme replacing old lights and cabling with a bespoke LED scheme. The new lighting is sympathetic to the building and has reduced energy consumption by 50%.

Aside from the major projects, the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme also covers many general repair and maintenance costs for the Cathedral, effectively making the Cathedral fabric neutral in respect of VAT.

Canon Michael Jones of Salford Cathedral said:

We are delighted and so grateful to have been a beneficiary of the Listed Places of Worship Grant.

This additional funding is much needed on our journey to fix and restore some of the original design features that have been lost over the years. Not only is the project looking to restore the Cathedral’s heritage, using innovative technologies will also provide new sources of energy to heat and light the Cathedral as well as offer long term drainage and roofing solutions to increasingly unpredictable and extreme patterns of weather associated with climate change.

The project will enhance the sacred space and what we are able to offer the community here in Salford.

John Luxton, Church Warden at Collegiate Church of St Mary in Warwick said:

St Mary’s is incredibly grateful for the support provided by the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme which was critical in enabling the church to raise the funding required to restore the amazing tower of our Grade I listed building.

I would urge any organisation in a similar position, seeking support, to investigate the scheme and then check out the eligibility criteria.

Tony Ireland, Project Manager for Netherlee and Stamperland said:

For us the Listed Places of Worship Scheme was seamlessly administered and the refunds authorised were efficiently delivered direct to our bank account. We found the explanatory notes detailing the operation of the Scheme straightforward to understand and a useful reference tool to establish what works qualified for support under the Scheme. The grant application forms were submitted electronically and after the first form was successfully submitted and approved the subsequent applications confidently followed. For listed property such as ours this Scheme delivered not just financial support but a very real feeling that we were part of an important national effort. Thank you Grants Team!

Archdeacon Mark Harvey, Rector, Shankill Parish Lurgan said:

The Church of Christ the Redeemer in the Parish of Shankill, Lurgan, was consecrated for worship in 1863, and is the largest parish church building in the Church of Ireland. Prior to the pandemic, we had been planning to carry out a complete re-ordering of the inside of the church. This had to be delayed however due to urgent repair works. In 2022, we discovered and treated an extensive outbreak of dry rot, and then in 2023, we undertook the enormous task of completely replacing our 160 year-old roof. The total cost of these repair projects was £716,000 plus VAT.

We could not have completed this work without the benefit of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme which has enabled us to claim back the VAT on these significant repairs and so reduced the financial burden on the parish.

We now plan to carry out the internal works to the church starting in mid-2024 at an estimated cost of £1.5-£2 million plus VAT. The support of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme thus far has been a huge factor in allowing us to progress these plans.

Since 2010, the Places of Worship Fund has invested £346 million in listed churches, synagogues, mosques and temples. The fund provides grants towards the VAT incurred on eligible costs, such as works to the roofs, masonry and monuments integral to the buildings.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 21 December 2023.

The Prime Minister has reappointed Allegra Berman, Amanda Levete, and Amanda Spielman as Trustees to the Victoria & Albert Museum, for terms of 4 years.

Allegra Berman

Reappointed from 01 March 2024 until 29 February 2028.

Allegra Berman is a General Manager and the Global Head of Institutional Sales within the Markets & Securities Services division of HSBC Bank plc. Allegra has 30 years’ experience in investment banking across a number of areas, including capital markets, mergers & acquisitions, infrastructure finance, corporate banking, Securities Services and Markets.

Allegra was previously a Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery and Chair of its Investment Committee and Finance Committees. Allegra is currently a Trustee of the Wolfson Foundation and Chair of its Risk & Audit Committee.

Amanda Levete

Reappointed from 01 March 2024 until 29 February 2028.

Amanda Levete is a Stirling Prize–winning architect and principal of architecture studio AL_A.

Completed museum projects include the V&A Exhibition Road Quarter and MAAT, the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology in Lisbon. Ongoing commissions include Paisley Museum in Scotland, the D’Ieteren headquarters in Brussels and the Belgrade Philharmonic Concert Hall in Serbia.

Amanda trained at the Architectural Association and worked for Richard Rogers before joining Future Systems as a partner in 1989, where she established the ground-breaking Media Centre at Lord’s Cricket Ground. She founded AL_A in 2009 with directors Ho-Yin Ng, Alice Dietsch and Maximiliano Arrocet.

Amanda was awarded a CBE for services to architecture in 2017 and in 2019 she was made an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. In 2021, she was elected a Royal Academician at the Royal Academy of Arts.

Amanda Spielman

Reappointed from 01 March 2024 until 29 February 2028.

Amanda Spielman has been a V&A trustee since 2020. She is chair of the audit committee and a member of the Young V&A committee.

Amanda has served for nearly seven years as His Majesty’s Chief Inspector at Ofsted, which is responsible for the inspection of schools, colleges, apprenticeships, adult education, nurseries, childminders and children’s social care. In this role she has spoken regularly about education, including speeches about art & design, design & technology and music.

Before this she was chair of Ofqual, the qualifications regulator, and research and policy director at the academy chain Ark Schools. Her early career was in strategy consulting, finance and investment at KPMG, Kleinwort Benson, Mercer Management Consulting and Nomura International.

She has also been a council member at Brunel University London and at the Institute of Education, a director of the Wales Millennium Centre, and a school governor. She holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Buckingham and is an honorary fellow of Brunel University.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Trustees of the Victoria & Albert Museum 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. Allegra Berman, Amanda Levete and Amanda Spielman have not declared any significant political activity.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 15 December 2023.

A temporary export bar has been placed on a rare drawing by 17th century artist Samuel Cooper, valued at almost £115,000, to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the work.

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay has placed an export bar on a rare drawing by prominent 17th-century artist Samuel Cooper.

Widely regarded as the finest portrait miniaturist of the seventeenth century, with portraits of Oliver Cromwell and Charles II among his works, only a handful of Cooper’s drawings are understood to remain in existence.

Titled ‘Portrait of a Dead Child’, the drawing depicts the infant grandson of Cooper’s uncle and tutor, John Hoskins the Elder. The work is minutely drawn in a technique characteristic of a miniaturist, with delicate cross-hatching in the face and the shadows cast on his forehead by the edge of his cap.

The work is valued at £114,300 (plus VAT of £4,860), and at risk of leaving the UK unless a domestic buyer can be found to save it for the nation.

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

This rare and intensely personal drawing by Samuel Cooper – one of the foremost English artists of the seventeenth century – is a deeply poignant work, as well as an important one.

It is right that it should remain in the UK so that it can be studied and contribute to our understanding of Cooper and his period.

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

Committee Member Pippa Shirley:

There is something deeply touching about this tender portrait and made even more poignant by the family network which connects the artist and subject. The baby was the son of Samuel Cooper’s cousin, John Hoskins Junior – in whose father’s studio Cooper had trained as a miniaturist, and who is the subject of a lively drawing on the reverse of the same sheet. In depicting his small relative in what must have been a highly emotional moment, Cooper brought all his powers of observation and a scintillating technique to bear. The detailed focus on the fragility of the face and the stillness of the tiny curled fingers, contrasting with the creation of a sense of volume through body colour in the cap and clothes creates an image of immense impact.

Cooper had an uncanny ability as an artist and miniature painter, admired in his own time, to get under the skin of his sitters, and his extraordinary sensitivity and perception is nowhere more clearly demonstrated than in this drawing. Arguably the greatest English-born artist of his time, patrons flocked to Cooper’s studio, and his work was praised by Samuel Pepys as ‘so extraordinary as I do never expect to see his like again’. Although many miniatures by Cooper survive, only seven drawings by him are recorded, making this one particularly precious. This, and the extreme rarity of drawings of a child’s deathbed at this period, the brilliance of execution and the light the drawing throws on artistic practice in the 1650s opens up a number of new lines of understanding and research, making it all the more desirable that it can be kept in this country. It also speaks to us all.

The RCEWA made its recommendation on the grounds of the drawing meeting the second and third

Waverley criteria for its outstanding aesthetic importance and its outstanding significance for the

study of the representation of death and the work of Samuel Cooper.

The decision on the export licence application for the drawing will be deferred for a period ending on 14 March 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 drawing at the recommended price of £114,300 (plus VAT of £4,860). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for three months

ENDS

1. Lord Parkinson discussed the Waverley criteria in a speech to mark their 70th anniversary, and used the opportunity to invite thoughts on the way they work – for instance, whether the Committee should say more about how it has considered items’ connection to the history of other countries as well as to the UK’s, or whether the items it considers are destined for public display rather than private collection. His full speech can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/lord-parkinson-speech-at-a-reception-to-mark-70-years-of-the-waverley-criteria
2. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the drawing should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk .
3. Details of the object are as follows: Samuel Cooper (1609-1672), Portrait of a Dead Child, the Artist’s Cousin. Pencil and black chalk heightened with body colour on paper prepared with an orange-pink wash, 145 x 185 mm. Verso: Portrait of a Gentleman, traditionally identified as John Hoskins Junior (c. 1617-after 1703), the artist’s cousin. Pencil and red chalk. Verso inscribed Dead Child; and in another hand: Mr S.C. child done by him; and in the same hand lower right NB ye son of: Old Mr Hoskins’s Son.
4. Provenance: possibly Mrs Samuel Cooper (1623-1693), the artist’s wife; possibly Mrs Richard Gibson, nee Anne Shepherd (d. 1707); possibly Susannah-Penelope Rosse (d. 1700), her daughter; possibly Michael Rosse (d. c. 1735), her husband; his sale, Cecil Street, London, 2 or 26 April 1723; possibly Christopher Tower (1657-1728) of Huntsmoor Park, Bucks; possibly Christopher Tower (1692-1771); possibly Christopher Tower (1747-1810); possibly the Revd William Tower (1789-1847), Weald Hall, Essex; certainly Ellen Tower, Mrs William Henry Harford (1832-1907); Hugh Wyndham Luttrell Harford (1862-1920); Arthur Hugh Harford (1905-1985); by descent.
5. 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.
6. Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. Its strategic vision in Let’s Create is that, by 2030, England should be a country in which the creativity of everyone is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. ACE invests public money from the Government and the National Lottery to support the sector and deliver the vision. Following the Covid-19 crisis, ACE developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90 per cent coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. It is also one of the bodies administering the Government’s unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund.

The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 14 December 2023.

The Prime Minister has appointed Rachel Smith as Digital Trustee of the Imperial War Museum for a term of 4 years.

Rachel Smith

Appointed for a four year term commencing 1 November 2023.

Rachel is UK & Middle East Managing Director at SQLI Digital Experience, a digital and commerce agency, part of SQLI Group; she advises on digital, customer experience and transformation strategies. Rachel has a breadth of digital & tech expertise across multiple sectors, with a record of delivering growth, decreasing operational costs, and improving financial bottom line.

An expert at cross functional advisory, building effective teams and stakeholder engagement in multiple geographies, Rachel is known for her ability to combine multiple lenses (business, experience & tech) to drive solutions and growth. Prior to 2010, she has experience in the museums and cultural sector in digital, marketing, fundraising and communications.

Rachel was an advisory board member of Youth Dance England (now One Dance UK).

Remuneration and Governance Code

Trustees of the Imperial War Museum 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. Rachel Smith has not declared any significant political activity.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 13 December 2023.

Martyn Henderson OBE has been appointed as the interim Chief Operating Officer to lead the preparatory work to set up the new independent regulator for men’s elite football.

Henderson is currently the Chief Executive of the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA). He has been in the role for five years.

During his tenure Henderson has worked with fans, campaign groups and the industry to introduce licensed ‘safe’ standing in top flight football grounds in England and Wales for the first time in nearly 30 years.

He supported the live events sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the leader of the Government’s Events Research Programme, which oversaw the safe return of live events, for which he was awarded an OBE. He also guided the SGSA through an independent review, which found that the SGSA “is seen nationally and internationally as a centre of excellence on sports ground safety, that punches well above its weight”.

Henderson is the first appointment to establish the new independent regulator for men’s elite football, which will be tasked with improving the way clubs are financially and operationally run.

He will take up the new role in early 2024. Further appointments will be announced in due course.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 11 December 2023.

A temporary export bar has been placed on a work by Hans Coper to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the work for the nation.

• The bottle was gifted to and owned by the renowned sculptor and artist Henry Moore and was displayed at his home until his death
• The bottle is valued at almost £600,000

A mid-20th century stoneware bottle which connects two well-known UK-based artists is at risk of leaving the country unless a domestic buyer can be found.

Created by one of the 20th century’s leading ceramic artists, Hans Coper, this monumental bottle with disc top is valued at £584,200 (plus VAT of £24,840). It was commissioned as a Christmas gift for the celebrated British artist and sculptor Henry Moore. It became a prominent feature in his Hertfordshire home, Hoglands, and was displayed in the large sitting room where he conducted his business and entertained guests throughout his life.

Born in Chemnitz, Germany in 1920, Coper came to England as an émigré and joined the London studio of Austrian potter and fellow émigré Lucie Rie. Coper became known for his abstract sculptural vessel forms, which were considered ahead of their time. Thanks to the success of his work, Coper became a leading figure in the studio pottery movement and was one of Britain’s most influential potters.

This is one of the earliest examples of Coper’s series of monumental bottles, made in the 1960s and early ’70s, and emblematic of the transformative influence of Jewish émigrés on post-war British art.

Arts & Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

This fine piece is not only of exceptional significance to the study of the development of Hans Coper’s work, but also to the understanding of Henry Moore, given he displayed it in his living room at Hoglands – all the more reason to hope that a UK buyer will come forward so that it can stay here to be studied and enjoyed for generations 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 (RCEWA).

Committee member Stuart Lochhead said:

Hans Coper was commissioned to create this monumental bottle vase by Harry Fischer, the influential dealer, as a Christmas gift for Henry Moore, Britain’s greatest living sculptor at the time. It subsequently stands at an important intersection between the development of Coper’s career and the angst of the post-war artistic landscape to which both artists responded in their own way. The bottle was displayed in Moore’s sitting room at Hoglands for the rest of his life, where it was seen by a multitude of key figures in the international art world during this period.

These links between the émigrés Fischer and Coper and the celebrated sculptor Moore cannot be underestimated and are a testament to the importance of this bottle vase, which also helps scholars to understand the development of Coper’s art at a crucial moment in his career. Of extraordinary grace and on a striking scale, the export of this work of art would be a misfortune for the nation.

The RCEWA made its recommendation on the basis that the bottle met the first, second, and third Waverley criteria for its outstanding connection with our history and national life, its outstanding aesthetic importance, and its outstanding significance to the study of the work of Hans Coper and the wider interdisciplinary modern British art movement, and the understanding of Henry Moore, through his collecting and display of art and artefacts.

The decision on the export licence application for the bottle will be deferred for a period ending on 10 March 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 bottle at the recommended price of £584,200 (plus VAT of £24,840 which can be reclaimed by an eligible institution. Artist Resale Royalty of £7,791.87 would also be payable). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for three months.

Offers from public bodies for less than the recommended price through the private treaty sale arrangements, where appropriate, may also be considered by the Minister. Such purchases frequently offer substantial financial benefit to a public institution wishing to acquire the item.

ENDS

1. Lord Parkinson discussed the Waverley criteria in a speech to mark their 70th anniversary, and used the opportunity to invite thoughts on the way they work – for instance, whether the Committee should say more about how it has considered items’ connection to the history of other countries as well as to the UK’s, or whether the items it considers are destined for public display rather than private collection. His full speech can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/lord-parkinson-speech-at-a-reception-to-mark-70-years-of-the-waverley-criteria
2. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the bottle should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk
3. Details of the bottle are as follows: Stoneware, layered porcelain slips and engobes over a textured body, the neck, lip and interior with a manganese glaze. Height: 66.5 cm. Made by Hans Coper (1920–1981) c. 1959–62
4. Provenance: Harry Fischer, commissioned directly from the artist; Henry Moore collection, gifted from the above.
5. 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.
6. Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. Its strategic vision in ‘Let’s Create’ is that, by 2030, England should be a country in which the creativity of everyone is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. ACE invests public money from the Government and the National Lottery to support the sector and deliver the vision. Following the Covid-19 crisis, ACE developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90 per cent coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. It is also one of the bodies administering the Government’s unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 11 December 2023.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer spoke at the V&A recognising Stoke’s efforts to level up culture in the city and encourage philanthropy.

Good evening everyone, It’s fantastic to be here with you all.

You are all part of a rich and proud tradition in the UK of charitable giving. We are a nation of philanthropists. Around two-thirds of us give to charity regularly. And the CAF World Giving Index ranks the UK number 3 in the world for giving.

In my experience, people in the UK will take any opportunity you give them to be selfless and share with others.

But we recognise, as a Government, that there’s still untapped potential within our philanthropy sector.

We want to maximise that potential. That’s why we’re actively looking at ways we can expand, enable and encourage more philanthropic activity.

Our aim is threefold: – To make it easier to give. – To encourage philanthropy across society. – And to ensure those who give generously are recognised.

You understand, as we do, that the Government has a role to play in creating the right conditions for generosity.

And it is our job to make sure this culture shift happens in partnership with the sector.

Philanthropic networks, like ‘Made in Stoke’, are a great example of what is possible. Because the kind of innovative network that Tristram started not only enables and encourages philanthropy, it does it in parts of the country where support is most needed.

And look at the impact it can have. To date, Made in Stoke has led to a:  – £10,000 investment into sports activities for Children; – £50,000 going to dance and ballet classes for children;  – And it is going to fund a group of young people to visit Pittsburgh next year

These figures shine a light on how important this 500-person network has become, and the fact that so many people are taking the opportunity to give something back to the city.

But the thing that is, arguably, most special about the network, is the focus it puts on Stoke’s unique arts and culture.

Tonight is a big chance for us all to celebrate Stoke’s crafts, artistry, innovation and industry.

And on that note, I’d like to finish by thanking Arts Council England for backing the Made in Stoke initiative, the V&A for hosting and Stoke Creates and New Philanthropy for Arts and Culture for organising it.

And to thank all of you for the role you play, individually and collectively, in your philanthropic work.

The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 7 December 2023.

BBC licence fee review launched as action taken to ease future price rises.

• Review launched into the future of the licence fee and alternative funding options, supported by a panel of leading industry experts
• Comes as government intervenes to minimise increases to the cost of the TV licence fee for households
• Next year’s licence fee will be £20 cheaper than it would have been had the government not acted

A review into how the BBC should be funded in the future has been launched by Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, as new action is taken to reduce the impact of price rises on licence fee payers.

The review, supported by a panel of independent experts soon to be announced from across the broadcasting sector and wider business world, will assess a range of options for funding the BBC. It will look at how alternative models could help secure the broadcaster’s long-term sustainability amid an evolving media landscape, increased competition and changing audience behaviour, while reducing the burden on licence fee payers.

As set out in the terms of reference published today, the review will explore the sustainability of the BBC’s current licence fee model, and build an evidence based understanding of alternative models for funding the BBC. The review will be supported by analysis which will include externally commissioned research.

The licence fee will also rise by less than previously expected next year following changes brought in by the government to minimise the cost to households. In 2022, the government froze the licence fee for two years to protect families from the sharp rise in the cost of living. It was agreed that the current annual fee of £159 would remain unchanged until April 2024, before rising by inflation for the following four years.

However, in recognition of the ongoing cost of living pressures faced by families, the government has today decided to change how the inflation-linked uplifts to the licence fee are calculated for 2024.

This means the annual cost of a TV licence will be £169.50 from April 2024 – the equivalent of an additional 88p per month.

The previous methodology for calculating inflation was the averaged annualised October to September CPI figure of 9 per cent. The new methodology for 2024 uses the annual rate of CPI in September 2023 of 6.7 per cent, and is the approach used to calculate uplifts to benefits.

As a result of today’s announcement and the two-year freeze, from April next year the annual licence fee will be more than £20 cheaper than it would have been had the government not acted. By the end of 2024, licence fee payers will have saved £37 since 2022 due to the measures.

The decision will ensure the additional cost to licence fee payers is kept as low as possible while giving the BBC over £3.8 billion in annual licence fee funding to spend on world leading content and deliver on its mission as set out in the Charter: to serve all audiences with impartial, high-quality and distinctive output and services which inform, educate and entertain. It will also ensure S4C can maintain its unique role promoting the Welsh language and supporting our wider public service broadcasting landscape.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

This is a fair deal that provides value for money for the licence fee payer while also ensuring that the BBC can continue to produce world leading content.

We know family budgets are stretched, which is why we have stepped in again – following two years of licence fee freezes – to reduce this year’s increase to less than a £1 a month.

But this settlement has highlighted other challenges faced by the BBC with the changing media landscape making the battle for audiences more competitive and the number of people paying the licence fee decreasing. This raises fundamental questions as to sustainability of the current licence fee system.

So we are also launching a funding review of the BBC that will take a forensic look at the licence fee, and whether a reformed funding model could better support our national broadcaster to remain sustainable and affordable for audiences while driving growth in our creative industries. I want a thriving BBC, supported to inform, educate and entertain and this funding review will help us make sure we can deliver this for decades to come.

This announcement follows an additional £20 million the government awarded to the BBC World Service earlier this year as part of the refresh of the Integrated Review. The money, which is on top of £94 million provided annually, was to protect all 42 World Service language services over the next two years, support English-language broadcasting, and counter disinformation.

The findings of the Funding Model Review will feed into the review of the BBC’s Royal Charter ahead of its expiry at the end of 2027. Any public consultation and final decision on the BBC’s funding model will be reserved for Charter Review itself.

Notes to editors

• An announcement of the membership of the expert panel for the Licence Fee Review will follow in due course. The panel will incorporate a broad range of views from experts in the broadcasting sector.
• The black and white TV licence fee will increase from £53.50 to £57.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 6 December 2023.

Dr Samir Shah CBE is the Government’s preferred candidate for the BBC Chair, the Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer announced today.

Dr Samir Shah, CBE, has worked in broadcasting for over forty years. He is the CEO and owner of Juniper, an independent television and radio production company. Before Juniper, Samir was head of current affairs and political programmes at the BBC. In 2022, the RTS (Royal Television Society) awarded him its top honour: Outstanding Contribution (AKA Lifetime Achievement award) to journalism. Samir was a Non-Executive Director of the BBC (2007-2010), Chair of the Museum of the Home (2014-2022), and was a trustee then Deputy Chair of the V&A (2004-2014). He was Chair of the Runnymede Trust (1999-2009). He is currently Chair of One World Media. Samir sits on the Arts and Media Honours Committee.

Samir was appointed a CBE for services to Television and Heritage in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours. He was previously made an OBE in the 2000 New Year’s Honours List. Samir was elected a Fellow of the Royal Television Society in 2002. Samir was appointed Visiting Professor of Creative Media at Oxford University in 2019 and the University of Nottingham appointed him to a Special Professorship in the Department of Post Conflict Studies.

Samir was born in India and came to England in 1960. He is married to Belkis with one son, Cimran.

Dr Shah will now appear before MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee for pre-appointment scrutiny.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

With a career spanning more than 40 years in TV production and journalism, Dr Shah has a wealth of experience to bring to the position of BBC Chair. He has a clear ambition to see the BBC succeed in a rapidly changing media landscape, and I have no doubt he will provide the support and scrutiny that the BBC needs to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.

His knowledge of the BBC and his belief in its role as a national broadcaster alongside his extensive work to promote diversity in broadcasting will be invaluable in helping to ensure that the BBC reflects, represents and serves communities across the whole of the UK.

I would also like to express my thanks to Dame Elan Closs Stephens for her diligence and dedication in leading the Board as Acting Chair in the interim period.

Dr Samir Shah CBE said:

I am delighted to be named the preferred candidate for Chair of the BBC and I look forward to the upcoming pre-appointment hearing with the Select Committee. The BBC is, without doubt, one of the greatest contributions we have made to global culture and one of our strongest calling cards on soft power.

If I am able  to put what skills, experience, and understanding of public service broadcasting I have built up during my career to help this brilliant organisation meet the complex and diverse challenges it faces over the coming years, it would be an honour.

The BBC has a great place in British life and a unique duty to reach a wide audience right across the country and I will do all I can to ensure it fulfils this in an increasingly competitive market.

The current process for appointing the Chair is set in the BBC’s 2017 Royal Charter, requiring an appointment to be made by ‘Order in Council’ following a fair and open competition. Convention has been that the Secretary of State recommends the appointment to the Lord President of the Council and the Prime Minister recommends the appointment to His Majesty The King. No recommendation can be made to His Majesty in Council, until a pre-appointment hearing has been held and a report published by the CMS Select Committee.

Ministers were assisted in their decision-making by an Advisory Assessment Panel which included a departmental official and a senior independent panel member approved by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.