Tag: Department for Culture and Media

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 10 January 2025.

A new cap on the price of resold tickets for concerts, live sport and other events are among measures that have been announced by the government today.

• Consultation will look at new measures to prevent consumers being fleeced by ticket touts as part of government’s Plan for Change
• Announcement puts music, theatre, comedy and sports fans back at the heart of live events and delivers plan for change to keep more money in the pockets of working people
• Pricing practices in the live events sector – including so-called ’dynamic pricing’ – also under the spotlight to ensure ticketing works for fans

A new cap on the price of resold tickets for concerts, live sport and other events are among measures that have been announced by the government today, as part of plans to clamp down on ticket touts fleecing the public.

It comes amid a concerning increase in fans wanting to get tickets for popular tours and events coming up against professional touts hoarding tickets and reselling at heavily inflated prices, while others have been caught out by a lack of transparency over the system of dynamic pricing.

According to analysis by the Competition and Market Authority (CMA), typical mark-ups on tickets sold on the secondary market are more than 50 per cent and investigations by Trading Standards have uncovered evidence of tickets being resold for up to six times their original cost. According to research by Virgin Media O2, ticket touts cost music fans an extra £145 million per year.

The CMA has estimated the value of tickets sold in 2019 through secondary ticketing platforms to be about £350 million, with around 1.9 million tickets sold on these platforms. 1.9 million tickets accounted for around 5 to 6% of the number of primary tickets sold in 2019.

That’s why the government has today launched a public consultation which sets out a range of measures in the ticket resale market that aim to better protect fans, improve access to live events and support the growth of the UK’s world leading live events sector.

The consultation will explore a range of options to make ticket resales fairer and more transparent, which include:

• Introducing a cap on the price of ticket resales – with the consultation seeking views on a range from the original price to up to a 30 per cent uplift, and limiting the number of tickets resellers can list to the maximum they are allowed to purchase on the primary market. These measures would prevent organised touts reselling a large number of tickets at vastly inflated prices and disincentivise industrial scale touting.
• Increasing the accountability of ticket resale websites and apps – creating new legal obligations so that they are held responsible by Trading Standards and the Competition and Market Authority for the accuracy of information they provide to fans.
• Strengthening consumer enforcement – review of existing legislation to bring it up to date, including stronger fines and a new licensing regime for re-sale platforms to increase enforcement of protections for consumers. Trading Standards can already issue fines of up to £5,000 for ticketing rule breaches. The consultation will look into whether this cap should be increased.

These measures come as part of the Government’s Plan for Change, with these plans aimed at saving money for consumers and keeping more money in the pockets of hardworking people.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

From sports tournaments to Taylor Swift – all too often big events have been dogged by consumers being taken advantage of by ticket touts.

These unfair practices look to fleece people of their hard-earned income, which isn’t fair on fans, venues and artists.

Fans enjoying themselves in the moment are what make concerts and live events the thrilling experiences that they are, which is why as part of our Plan for Change, we are putting them back in control.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

The chance to see your favourite musicians or sports team live is something all of us enjoy and everyone deserves a fair shot at getting tickets – but for too long fans have had to endure the misery of touts hoovering up tickets for resale at vastly inflated prices.

As part of our Plan for Change, we are taking action to strengthen consumer protections, stop fans getting ripped off and ensure money spent on tickets goes back into our incredible live events sector, instead of into the pockets of greedy touts.

Musician and DJ Fatboy Slim said:

Great to see money being put back into fans pockets instead of resellers. Fully behind this effort to make sure more people can enjoy incredible arts and music events across the country without being ripped off. It is part of the change this government were elected to make.

Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said:

For far too long, fans have faced an uphill battle to find face value tickets to see their favourite artist perform or sports team play live so it’s absolutely right the government wants to make ticketing fairer for consumers.

In recent years, touts have been allowed to charge fans hundreds of pounds extra for secondary tickets, it has been very difficult for resale platforms to be held to account for poor practices and consumers have had to watch out for scam tickets circulating online. The recent Oasis ticket sales also highlighted the flaws of so-called dynamic pricing in this market – with some customers queuing for hours for tickets only to find that prices had risen dramatically and were no longer affordable.

The government must use this consultation to regulate the industry properly, ensure ticket resales don’t exploit fans and decide when the use of dynamic pricing is unfair and shouldn’t be allowed.

Jon Collins, chief executive of LIVE, the live music trade body, said:

LIVE welcomes this positive step to put fans back at the heart of live music by tackling ticket touting. We have been a long-term and vociferous advocate for regulation of the secondary market, supporting the great work of the FanFair Alliance, and are pleased to see government delivering on its manifesto commitment in this area.

We are delighted that measures which permit responsible and fair fan-to-fan resale, while eliminating third-party profiteering, will be brought forward. This will reduce the incentive for touts to squeeze fans out of the primary sale and highlights the need to set the cap on resales at or near the original price.

We look forward to continuing to work with government to ensure fans can enjoy our world-class live music sector.

Alongside the consultation, ministers have launched a call for evidence into pricing practices in the live events sector, such as dynamic pricing. Dynamic pricing adjusts ticket prices based on demand, time, and availability, which can lead to increased costs for popular events or prices being brought down where there is increasing availability or reduced demand.

Often this is done to sell unsold tickets and fill seats but, in some cases, a lack of transparency has meant customers being caught unawares by last minute price rises for high demand events.

The call for evidence will seek views on how the ticketing system in the live events sector is working for fans and whether the current system provides sufficient protection from unfair practices. It will consider whether there is potential for new harms to consumers to arise from emerging business trends including the use of new technologies and dynamic pricing.

The ticket resale market plays a valuable role for consumers and needs to work better for fans. It can provide a legitimate and safe way to transfer unwanted tickets to help more people to attend events. It can also ensure revenues flow back to the creative and live events sector, without fans facing inflated prices due to touts. These measures would apply to a range of events covering sport, music, theatre, comedy and beyond.

Major events and tours are key cultural moments, which is why it is important that consumers experience openness and transparency when buying tickets, allowing a fair process for fans looking to see their favourite artists or sporting stars.

The move delivers on a manifesto commitment to address the problem of consumers finding it difficult and expensive to attend live events because of ticket touting. The government pledged to put fans back at the heart of events by introducing new consumer protections on ticket resales.

Naomi Pohl, General Secretary Musicians’ Union said:

This consultation is very welcome and addresses key issues that affect fans, the artists they love and the wider music industry. Secondary ticketing diverts money away from artists and makes it harder for them to tour and ultimately to make new music. Unfair ticketing pricing and practices can also damage the relationship between artist and fan.

We believe that the money fans pay for tickets should always go to fund their favourite artists’ careers and the wider music ecosystem; not into the pockets of touts.

UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl said:

UK Music welcomes this move to support music fans and a music industry which generates £7.6 billion a year for the economy and supports 216,000 jobs.

Music lovers have been exploited for too long by a secondary ticketing market which is driven by greedy touts and automated bots charging rip-off prices and sucking money out of our sector.

This announcement should pave the way for greater transparency over ticketing for live events and ensure music fans can see their favourite acts at an affordable price.

We want to see an end to speculative selling with a clear price cap that means tickets can only be resold under a fair and reasonable system of resale.

There needs to be far tougher controls on the secondary market and the use of digital bots to protect genuine music fans and put them first to restore the integrity of ticket sales for live events.

We look forward to continuing to work with the Government to ensure every part of the UK music industry’s eco-system benefits from these changes so we can ensure our sector continues to grow and thrive.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 6 January 2025.

The Prime Minister has appointed Emma Bunce, Teresa Anderson and Julia Mundy as Trustees of Royal Museums Greenwich for four year terms from 20 November 2024 to 19 November 2028.

Professor Teresa Anderson MBE

Appointed from 20 November 2024 to 19 November 2028.

Teresa Anderson is Founder and Director of The University of Manchester’s Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement and is professor of Cultural and Creative Industries in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures at the University of Manchester. She has a BSc in Physics, an MSc in Instrumentation, a PhD in Electrical Engineering, and a Master’s degree in Fine Art.

The Centre first opened in 2011 and (pre-COVID) attracted over 150,000 visitors each year, including 25,000 school children, who participate in a curriculum-linked Education programme. The Centre takes innovative approaches to increasing diversity and engaging new audiences with science.

In 2016, Teresa co-founded the bluedot festival at Jodrell Bank, which brings together science, music, art and culture, breaking down barriers between sectors and celebrating creativity and innovation. The festival typically attracts 25,000 people each year. Teresa also led, together with Tim O’Brien, the ten-year project that resulted in Jodrell Bank being awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2019. In June 2022, the award-winning £21million ‘First Light Pavilion’ was opened at Jodrell Bank. Teresa led and directed the project from inception in 2008 to delivery.

In 2013 Teresa was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to Astrophysics. In 2014 she was awarded the Institute of Physics Kelvin Medal for Public Engagement with Physics. In 2024 she was named one of the National Lottery’s ‘Heritage Gamechangers’ for her work on the heritage and cultures of science.

Professor Emma Bunce OBE

Appointed from 20 November 2024 to 19 November 2028

Professor Emma Bunce is the Director of the Institute for Space at the University of Leicester and previously Head of the School of Physics and Astronomy. She is Professor of Planetary Plasma Physics, studying the electromagnetic interaction between the Sun and the planets. Emma has worked on multiple international space missions: the NASA Cassini mission to Saturn, the ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury, and the ESA Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer mission to Jupiter and Ganymede. She is the Principal Investigator of the only UK science instrument on the BepiColombo mission, and leads the international science team. She is the European Co-Chair of the JUICE-Europa Clipper Joint Steering Committee, aiming to identify opportunities for joint science between these two independent flagship missions.

Emma was President of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) from 2020-2022, and worked on the Board of Trustees of the National Space Centre from 2014-2023. Emma has received multiple distinctions for her work including the RAS Chapman medal (2018) and the European Geophysical Union David Bates medal (2022) for her “exceptional contribution to planetary science”. In 2023 Emma was awarded an OBE in the King’s New Year’s Honours for “services to Astronomy and Science Education”.

Dr Julia Mundy

Appointed from 20 November 2024 to 19 November 2028

Dr Julia Mundy has attained international recognition for her academic research into strategic risk, accountability, and organisational performance. She is Deputy Director of the Institute for Political Economy, Governance, Risk & Accountability at the University of Greenwich. After a career in financial services, including as an investment analyst, she obtained an MBA in Finance from the Bayes Business School (formerly City University Business School) and a PhD in Accounting from the University of Melbourne. She also qualified as a Chartered Secretary.

Julia brings extensive committee experience with a government department and other public sector bodies, including regulators. She currently serves on the Audit & Risk Assurance Committee of the UK Statistics Authority (Office for National Statistics and the Office for Statistics Regulation) and on the Financial Conduct Authority’s statutory Consumer Panel where she advises and challenges the FCA in its development of policy and regulation. Julia served for seven years on the Board of Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust, where she was Vice Chair and Senior Independent Director and where she chaired the Audit & Risk Committee and the Finance, Investment & Performance Committee. Other independent roles include the audit committee of a housing association and the Research Advisory Board of the ICAEW.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Trustees of Royal Museums Greenwich 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. Julia has declared that she canvassed for Rachel Blake MP on two occasions during the 2024 General Election, and held the post of Honorary Treasurer for Labour Humanists from 2009 until 2016. Teresa and Emma have not declared any significant political activity.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 18 December 2024.

A new taskforce, led by Baroness Shriti Vadera and Sir Peter Bazalgette, to help deliver a plan to grow the creative industries met for the first time today.

• Taskforce to help deliver new plan to grow the creative industries
• Group to be led by Baroness Shriti Vadera and Sir Peter Bazalgette

Leaders of organisations including Creative UK, the British Fashion Council and the Royal Shakespeare Company, plus academics, investors and tech entrepreneurs, have joined a new taskforce to help inform the Government’s strategy to unlock growth in the UK’s highly valued creative industries, one of the eight growth-driving sectors of the Industrial Strategy.

The Creative Industries Taskforce met for the first time today (Wednesday 18 December) under the leadership of its co-chairs Baroness Shriti Vadera and Sir Peter Bazalgette.

The taskforce, announced in November, will work towards the development of an ambitious and targeted Creative Industries Sector Plan, helping to provide growth as part of the Government’s Plan for Change and deliver on our decade of national renewal.

The plan will be published in the spring, alongside the Industrial Strategy, and will set out new policies and government interventions that will help to deliver a further boost to the creative industries’ potential for spreading growth and opportunity for all.

The creative industries have been identified as a key growth-driving sector in the Government’s Industrial Strategy, and will form a central part of the government’s mission to grow the economy.

The taskforce will help to ensure that the Creative Industries Sector Plan is designed in partnership with business, devolved governments, regions, experts and other stakeholders.

Creative Industries Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

Our world-leading creative industries, which are worth £125 billion to the economy and employ millions of people, were identified as a key growth-driving sector in the government’s Industrial Strategy.

The sector will have a critical role to play in helping us deliver the mission of this government to drive economic growth into all of our towns and cities.

This taskforce will be central to achieving that goal, by helping to draw up a bold and ambitious Sector Plan which will enable further growth and innovation in the creative industries by unlocking private investment, boosting exports and developing our highly skilled creative workforce.

Minister for Services, Small Business and Exports Gareth Thomas said:

By working in partnership with industry, the Creative Industries Taskforce will play a vital role in helping to identify key opportunities for growth in the UK’s brilliant and innovative creative sector.

We’re listening to businesses and I’m delighted our Industrial Strategy will back our creative industries by encouraging further investment into the sector, increasing exports, kickstarting economic growth and supporting our Plan for Change.

At today’s meeting, the taskforce discussed how to work with the Government to inform the development of the Sector Plan, with a focus on policy issues identified in the Industrial Strategy Green Paper, including crowding in investment, access to opportunity, people and skills, and supporting innovation.

The taskforce will work closely with the wider Creative Industries Council (CIC), from which several of its members are drawn.

It was announced last month that Sir Peter Bazalgette, the incumbent CIC industry co-chair, will extend his term until summer 2025 before stepping down, having served in the role since 2021. Baroness Vadera will then serve as industry co-chair for 18 months, alongside the Culture and Business Secretaries.

The members of the Creative Industries Taskforce are:

• Baroness Shriti Vadera (co-chair), chair, Royal Shakespeare Company, and future CIC co-chair
• Sir Peter Bazalgette (co-chair), current CIC co-chair
• Francesca Hegyi OBE, CEO, Edinburgh International Festival
• Prof Hasan Bakhshi MBE, director, Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre
• Caroline Norbury OBE, CEO, Creative UK
• Stephen Page, executive chair, Faber
• Caroline Rush CBE, CEO, British Fashion Council
• Prof Christopher Smith, CEO, AHRC
• Tom Adeyoola, co-founder, Extend Ventures, and non-executive board member, Channel 4
• Lynn Barlow, academic and TV producer
• Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
• Philippa Childs, deputy general secretary, Bectu Sector of Prospect
• Saul Klein OBE, investor and member of the Council of Science and Tech
• Sir William Sargent, chair and co-founder, Framestore
• Prof Jonathan Haskel CBE, professor of economics, Imperial Business School
• Syima Aslam MBE, founder and CEO, Bradford Literature Festival

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 18 December 2024.

A temporary export bar has been placed on the Fairhaven panels by Flemish artist De Vély.

• Panels have been valued at over £1.6 million
• Export bar is to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the work for the nation

The Fairhaven Panels, a remarkable set of four highly decorated panels and the only known publicly available works by the artist De Vély, are at risk of leaving the UK unless a domestic buyer can be found.

The panels, created in the 17th century, depict four different personifications or gods: Mars, Virtu Invincible, Minerva, and Magnificence, focusing on victory in war and the beauty of peace.

Set in their original gilded metal cases, each panel features a skilful combination of glass, pearls, shells, stones, enamel and gilt metal. These are materials that do not fade over time, so their vivid colours remain particularly striking to modern audiences. The panels are now valued at over £1.6 million.

These works could provide new insight into this artist and the unique sculptural technique he used to craft them, as they are a rarity in European art and embrace the baroque taste for extravagance. The elaborate technique that De Vély employed would have been considerably time-consuming and is reflected in the nearly 20 years they took to complete.

Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

The Fairhaven Panels offer an exciting opportunity for a UK institution to investigate the intriguing artist De Vély and the origins of this magnificent sculpture technique.

I hope that placing an export bar on these four exquisite panels will allow a gallery or institution time to acquire them so the public can enjoy them for years to come.

Committee member, Pippa Shirley said:

These mysterious panels are a feast for the eyes. We don’t yet know for certain who commissioned them, or why, or even much about the virtuoso craftsman who made them, but their size, extraordinary composition, technical brilliance and the way they celebrate the wonder of natural materials are unique in this country, and ripe for new understanding.

They have much to tell us about links between artistic workshops and practices, the trade in precious materials, patronage and taste, not to mention the connection to the highly significant Fairhaven collections. All this and more can only be fully explored if the panels remain here.

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 made its recommendation on the basis that the panels met the second and third Waverley criteria for their outstanding aesthetic importance and their outstanding significance to the study of collecting. They also highlighted its importance for further study into 17th-century works of art employing pearl, precious and semi-precious stones and glass granules and the light they shed on De Vély, an artist about whom very little is known.

The decision on the export licence application for the panels will be deferred for a period ending on 17th March 2025 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 panels at the recommended price of £1,620,000 (plus VAT of £54,000 which can be reclaimed by an eligible institution). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for four months.

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

Notes to editors

1. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the panels should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk
2. Details of the panels are as follows: The Fairhaven Panels: A Polyptych with Mars, Virtu Invincibile, Minerva and Magnificence By De Vély (fl. circa 1685-1700),  French Signed and dated: De vély. / inuenit, / et fecit, and: incepit / Anno 1685 / et Compleuit / Anno 1702[?]; the shield inscribed: NEC SORTE NEC FATO. Hardstone including lapis lazuli, hessonite garnet, carnelian and sardonyx,  seed pearls,  shell, mother of pearl, coloured  glass granules, semi-precious and precious stones, and partially enamelled and gilt metal, on a wax and wood core, each mounted within gilt bronze cases. The whole is framed within a later mirrored and glazed gilt wood frame Flanking  panels: 48 x 26cm; central panels: 48 x 23.5cm; frame: 66 x 127cm
3. Provenance: Probably acquired circa  1920-1935,  by Cara Leyland Rogers (1867-1939),  who later became Lady Fairhaven;  her son Huttleston Rogers Broughton (1896-1966),  1st Baron Fairhaven, Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire; thence by family descent to the present Lord Fairhaven
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 17 December 2024.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announces a new independent review of Arts Council England will launch in the new year.

• Review will explore how to improve access to arts and culture in all areas of the country to drive access to opportunity
• Former Culture Minister Baroness Margaret Hodge appointed as lead reviewer

An independent review of Arts Council England (ACE) will launch in the new year to ensure every region across the country has access to high-quality arts and culture.

Baroness Margaret Hodge, a former Minister of State for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism, has been appointed by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to lead the review aided by an advisory panel featuring experts from across the arts and cultural sectors.

The Terms of Reference will be agreed and published in due course, however, key priorities of the review will include:

• Exploring ACE’s role in supporting excellence across the country, ensuring that everyone is able to participate in and consume culture and creativity, regardless of their background or where they live
• Exploring how ACE engages with its partners and stakeholders at all levels to ensure that national and local priorities work harmoniously to benefit the public
• Evaluating ACE’s role in developing a strong and vibrant creative sector which supports both grassroots creativity and internationally renowned works of art
• Considering ACE’s role in the wider cultural funding ecosystem, and mechanisms to strengthen the role of local voices in decision making
• Assessing ACE’s mandate to ensure it is clear and appropriate for the 21st century and it is able to deliver high quality arts and culture on a national, regional and local level

It comes as part of the Government’s efforts to break down barriers to opportunity through  its Plan for Change with investment and reform to deliver growth, ​create more jobs, ​a​nd rebuild Britain​ in a decade of national renewal.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

Arts and culture must be for everyone, everywhere.

No matter your background or the place you live, we should all be able to experience the joys that dance, theatre, music, museums, even borrowing  a book from a library brings.

For too long only the privileged few in select parts of the country have been able to have access to high-quality arts or to believe a career within them was possible.

This review is the first step on the journey to restoring people’s connection with the arts and culture in every region of the country.

I am absolutely delighted that Baroness Hodge has agreed to take up this role. Her wealth of experience will help us to break down barriers to opportunity in arts and culture and give our young people the chance to shape their own future.

Lead reviewer Rt Hon. Baroness Margaret Hodge said:

I am absolutely thrilled to be asked to lead the review of the Arts Council. I am passionate about the rich contribution the arts can make to all of us, as individuals, in our communities and to the economy.

I look forward to engaging with the Arts Council and with a wide range of stakeholders across the country as we consider the challenges and opportunities the Arts Council faces.

The expert advisory panel assisting Baroness Hodge with the review will be published in due course, alongside the agreed Terms of Reference for the review.

In addition, the government has extended the tenure of Chair of Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, by 18 months to maintain stability during the review process.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• Arts Council England is an executive non-departmental public body, and was established by Royal Charter in 1946.
• It makes funding decisions at arm’s length from the government of the day, using taxpayers’ and National Lottery players’ money to support engaging and innovative projects and organisations across the whole of England.
• ACE is one of the government’s primary vehicles to support the arts in England; its role encompasses funding and investment, research, support and advice to the sector, and partnership promotion. It works in partnership with a broad range of individuals and organisations across artforms and at the local, regional and national levels.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 12 December 2024.

A UK-wide Day of Reflection will take place on Sunday 9 March 2025.

Communities across the country will be invited to come together to remember loved ones and reflect on the impact of the pandemic
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has confirmed that next year a COVID-19 Day of Reflection will take place on 9 March to remember the pandemic and its impact on communities across the UK.

The COVID-19 Day of Reflection is one of the ten recommendations set out by the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration.

To mark the fifth anniversary of the pandemic, people across the UK are invited to come together to remember and reflect on this unique period of our history as well as their own experiences.

The day will be an opportunity for the public to remember and commemorate those who lost their lives during the pandemic, reflect on the sacrifices made and the impact on our daily lives, and pay tribute to the work of health and social care staff, frontline workers, researchers and all those who volunteered and showed acts of kindness during this unprecedented time.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on all of us. This Day of Reflection is an opportunity to remember the friends and loved ones that we lost, as well as the sacrifices that so many people made.

There are lots of ways to take part in the Day of Reflection, whether it’s organising or attending a community event, or remembering in your own way at home. It’s important that people take part in the way that is right for them.

Chair of the Covid Commemoration Commission Baroness Morgan of Cotes said:

As each year passes since the height of the pandemic it can feel as if Covid is more and more of a distant memory. And yet I know from the conversations the UK Covid Commemoration Commissioners had, that those who lost loved ones appreciate a day when many others will also remember those who lost their lives with them. Today’s announcement of the 2025 Day of Reflection is therefore very welcome.

The announcement of next year’s date follows this year’s commemoration in March that saw people come together to pay tribute to those affected and those who sadly lost their lives. The UK Commission on Covid Commemoration, headed by Baroness Morgan of Cotes, worked with bereaved families to find appropriate ways to remember those who lost their lives during the pandemic. It presented its recommendations in September 2023, including that an annual UK-wide Day of Reflection should be established.

The Government’s wider response to the Commission’s report will be published in due course.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 27 November 2024.

A new ambition for the United Kingdom to welcome 50 million international visitors per year by 2030 has been announced by the government, as part of its plans for the country to remain one of the most visited worldwide, driving economic growth.

• In a major speech, the Tourism Minister, Sir Chris Bryant, commits to increasing visitor numbers and improving overall visitor experience
• A new Visitor Economy Advisory Council to boost collaboration between government and industry
• Tourism industry worth £74 billion to the economy and 4% of GVA with a huge potential for further growth to support government’s central mission

A new ambition for the United Kingdom to welcome 50 million international visitors per year by 2030 has been announced by the government, as part of its plans for the country to remain one of the most visited worldwide, driving economic growth.

In a keynote speech at the Tourism Alliance conference in London today (26 November), Tourism Minister Sir Chris Bryant set out the government’s plans for the tourism sector to be an integral part of its growth mission.

A new Visitor Economy Advisory Council, co-chaired by the Minister, will be established that will see industry and government work together to kickstart this next stage of growth for the sector. The council will work towards the creation of a National Visitor Economy Strategy, which will be launched next autumn and map out plans to support the growth of the tourism industry.

Growth in the tourism industry beyond London will be at the heart of this strategy. While the capital is a huge draw that brings in tens of millions of visitors each year, there is vast potential for increasing visits to other cities and regions, which can be achieved through improved marketing, reforming tourist boards, filling skills gaps in the visitor economy and better celebrating our culture.

The UK attracted 38 million visitors last year. Before the pandemic in 2019 that figure was 41 million.

Speaking at the Tourism Alliance Conference, Tourism Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

I am passionate about making the UK a top visitor destination that truly rivals our European counterparts.

But we can only do that if we work together. We need a true partnership between the government and the sector to deliver such growth.

We all know that London is great – one of the best cities in the world. But too many visitors only go to London – in fact when asked by VisitBritain, 57 per cent of visitors could not imagine what there was in the UK outside of London.

We need to complement London and Edinburgh with stronger regional destinations – where people visit in their own right and stay and spend money because they know about the full range of attractions at those destinations – the heritage, the arts, the music, the pubs and restaurants.

Too many of my predecessors have seen tourism as a nice thing to have and not a priority. I don’t. I see it as an essential part of our economy, worth £74 billion and 4 per cent of GVA with a huge potential for growth.

We are good at this and can be even better if we work together. I want us to have a ‘holistic’ approach to tourism where we will be looking at every element from a visitor’s arrival at the airport to buying a ticket for a music gig or finding a restaurant or catching a train.

In addition to focusing on inbound and domestic tourism, the Visitor Economy Advisory Council will also look at outbound travel, including the rollout of the EU Entry Exit scheme and eGate access for Brits at European airports, to ensure all visitors have the best possible experience when travelling.

Improving the overall visitor experience will be central to the government’s plans for the tourism industry. Every element of someone’s visit – from their arrival at the airport, to buying a ticket for a gig and booking a hotel – will be considered. Making each individual element of the visitor experience as accessible and enjoyable as possible will encourage more tourists to visit the UK, foster national pride and provide long-term economic benefits for communities across the whole country.

Minister Bryant also updated on ongoing tourism programmes, including the Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) programme, which is transforming tourist boards across the country so they can work better together to market their areas to tourists, and attract more investment and major events to the UK. Thirty five LVEPs have been accredited so far.

The Minister also confirmed that the government will introduce a short-term lets registration scheme as soon as possible, to help provide the best tourist accommodation possible while protecting people’s right to affordable housing, with initial phases of testing already underway.

This follows the government securing a permanent business rates relief at 40% for many companies in the tourism sector.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 27 November 2024.

A temporary export bar has been placed on Dame Barbara Hepworth’s Sculpture with Colour (Oval Form) Pale Blue and Red.

• The sculpture has been valued at almost £3.7 million
• Export bar is to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the sculpture

An export bar has been placed on celebrated British artist Dame Barbara Hepworth’s Sculpture with Colour (Oval Form) Pale Blue and Red.

Born in 1903 in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Hepworth became one of the leading British artists of the 20th century, creating prominent sculptures for the 1951 Festival of Britain entitled ‘Contrapuntal Forms’, which are still on display in Harlow, Essex and her prestigious work ‘Single Form’, which stands in the plaza of the United Nations building in New York City.

Sculpture with Colour (Oval Form) Pale Blue and Red is a painted wood sculpture created in 1943. It is part of a larger series in Hepworth’s oeuvre, which she developed throughout the Second World War after she settled with her family in St. Ives, Cornwall.

The piece is a notable example of this series, which pioneered her stringed and coloured sculptures for the first time. Although this concept of colour and strings is understood to have been first conceived in London, Hepworth consistently associated these elements with the organic elements she observed in her rural surroundings in West Penrith.

This work also marks a pivotal moment in the artist’s development as a leading pioneer of the direct carving method and it is the only surviving oval carving after the first prototype of the series was broken when Hepworth cast it in bronze in 1961.

Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

Dame Barbara Hepworth was a phenomenal artistic genius, who will continue to inspire future generations with her unique genre defining sculptures, which remain as powerful and engaging now as during her lifetime.

Hepworth was influenced by her surroundings and this sculpture is a beautiful insight into her new life in St.Ives after the outbreak of the Second World War.

I hope a UK buyer can be found for this sculpture so the British public can continue to learn and engage with one our most important artists for generations to come.

Stuart Lochhead, RCEWA Committee Member said:

Having moved to Cornwall at the outbreak of the Second World War, Barbara Hepworth found herself in a profoundly different environment where, even with limited resources, she produced ground breaking sculpture.

Sculpture with Colour (Oval Form) Pale Blue and Red embodies the Cornish sky, sea and rugged coastline, in which she lived and which influenced her so deeply. One of only a handful of stringed and coloured sculptures she produced during this period, it marks a significant evolution in her practice, bridging her pre-and post-war artistic developments. As such, this beautiful and immensely informative work by one of Britain’s greatest artists must be saved for the nation.

The Committee made its recommendation on the basis that the sculpture 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 Dame Barbara Hepworth’s working practice and the evolution of her work.

The decision on the export licence application for the sculpture will be deferred for a period ending on 26 February 2025 inclusive. At the end of the first deferral period owners will have a consideration period of 15 Business Days to consider any offer(s) to purchase the sculpture at the recommended price of £3,652,180.63 (plus VAT of £129,800). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for five months.

Notes to editors

1. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the sculpture should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk.
2. Details of the sculpture are as follows: Sculpture with Colour (Oval Form) Pale Blue and Red, 1943. Painted wood and string, 50.2 cm. Signed, inscribed and dated ‘Barbara Hepworth/”Sculpture with colour/pale blue & red”/1943’ (on the underside of the base), painted wood and string, unique. This work is recorded as BH 119.
3. Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist by Helen Sutherland in March 1944. Acquired from the above by Nicolete Gray, London, in 1966, and by descent. Anonymous sale; Christie’s, London, 1 July 1998, lot 20, Anonymous sale; Christie’s, London, 6 June 2008, lot 164, where purchased by the previous owner. Anonymous sale; Christie’s, London, 20 March 2024, lot 12, where purchased by the present owner.
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 27 November 2024.

Creative technology firms and artists in Merseyside and the West Midlands are in line for a major financial boost, as a £13.5 million investment in training, research and development funding is announced by the Culture Secretary to boost economic growth and job opportunities.

• £13.5 million awarded to boost Merseyside’s thriving live music sector and help creative firms in the West Midlands revolutionise live performance with VR and immersive technology
• Clusters funding builds on UK’s regional strengths as part of government’s growth-driving mission for the creative industries
• Next phase of advanced ‘movie magic’ research labs launched, with £6.6 million of funding available for SMEs

Liverpool City Region’s MusicFutures cluster will benefit from £6.75 million to bring together partners including the city’s two universities, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the Liverpool M&S Bank Arena. The cluster will provide funding and training for musicians, educators and small businesses to harness new technologies such as AI and Extended Reality (XR) and explore making the live music sector more environmentally sustainable.

CreaTech Frontiers in the West Midlands will also benefit from £6.75 million, with the investment focusing on developing small, micro- and medium-sized businesses specialising in creative tech like video games and immersive reality. Several regional universities alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) will work with industry to boost skills and develop new products, technology and multi-platform content. This will include using VR, 3D-modelling and animation techniques in live events, and adapting video game engines for use in music, theatre and film.

Experimental performance projects curated by the RSC will be showcased at South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Texas in 2026, while the Birmingham Opera Group and The Rep theatre will stage new works, including co-creations with young people in deprived areas of the West Midlands.

It comes as the CoSTAR network of R&D labs being built across the UK to drive the next generation of ‘movie magic’ visual effects tech in film, TV and performing arts enters its next phase, with £6.6 million now available to help innovating firms build prototypes and take their products to market.

Merseyside and the West Midlands have been selected in the government’s Creative Industries Clusters, delivered by the Arts and Humanities Research Council on behalf of UK Research and Innovation, which aims to grow specialist creative subsectors across the UK. The UK’s world-class creative industries have been named as one of the government’s eight growth-driving sectors in its forthcoming Industrial Strategy.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

Talent is everywhere but opportunity is not. That’s why we are supporting firms, artists and freelancers that are innovating, using new technology and driving growth in creative clusters across the country.

Liverpool and Merseyside hold a special place in our nation’s music landscape, and this funding will support imagination and experimentation across the city and region, as creators explore how we can make gigs more environmentally friendly.

Birmingham and the West Midlands have a rich industrial history, and we are putting them at the forefront of a potential new industry developing the amazing technology that will revolutionise visual effects in film, theatre and gaming.”

AHRC Executive Chair Professor Christopher Smith said:

AHRC is delighted to announce the launch of a new wave of Creative Industries Clusters.

The two new clusters announced today, MusicFutures and CreaTech Frontiers, will create vital support for technology and innovation in the UK’s world-leading creative industries and expand our regional investment.

These clusters will support artists and creators so they can benefit from new technologies across a wide range of platforms, and develop their innovation and business skills.

The remarkable projects made possible through our Creative Industries Clusters span sustainable fashion, game design and extended reality, and have attracted major co-investment. They have helped solve real-world problems and they deliver commercial benefits to the UK economy in line with the Government’s Industrial Strategy.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 27 November 2024.

• Government to bring forward statutory levy as first step to strengthening harmful gambling protections
• Mandated levy to generate £100 million for the research, prevention and treatment of gambling harms, with half of funding to directly benefit NHS-led gambling treatment system
• Government also confirms online slot stake limits of £5 for over 25s and £2 for young adults aged 18 to 24

The government has taken its first steps towards strengthening gambling harm legislation today, confirming plans to implement a statutory levy on gambling profits and online slot stake limits to help tackle the issue of gambling addiction.

Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross has outlined how a levy on gambling operators will be designed and implemented as the government moves forward on its manifesto commitment to reduce gambling harm.

The landmark levy will be charged to all licensed operators and will guarantee increased, ringfenced and consistent funding to prevent and tackle gambling harm.

Under the current voluntary system not all gambling companies contribute equally, with some operators paying as little as £1 a year towards research, prevention and treatment. The new mandatory levy will ensure all operators contribute a fair share.

The Gambling Minister has also confirmed that the government will introduce stake limits for online slots, a higher-risk gambling product associated with large losses, long sessions, and binge play.

Stake limits will be set at £5 per spin for adults aged 25 and over and £2 per spin for 18-24 year olds. Evidence from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and the Gambling Survey for Great Britain shows young adults can be particularly vulnerable to gambling related harm with under 25s having one of the highest proportion of respondents scoring 8 or more on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) of any age group.

Minister for Gambling, Baroness Twycross said:

Gambling harm can ruin people’s finances, relationships, and ultimately lives. We are absolutely committed to implementing strengthened measures for those at risk, as well as providing effective support for those affected.

The introduction of the first legally mandated levy will be instrumental in supporting research, raising awareness and reducing the stigma around gambling-related harm.

We are also helping to protect those at risk, with a particular focus on young adults, by introducing stake limits for online slots.

These measures will help build an NHS fit for our future and strengthen protections whilst also allowing people to continue to gamble safely.

From October 2023 to January 2024, the government sought views from clinicians, academics, the industry and the wider public on how the levy should be designed and implemented.

In its response to this consultation, the government has confirmed 50% of all funding generated will be directed to NHS England and appropriate bodies in Scotland and Wales to develop a comprehensive support and treatment system. This will include referrals and triage, through to recovery and aftercare.

Prevention is a crucial part of the government’s efforts to tackle gambling harm. 30% of levy funding will go towards investment in this area, which could include measures such as national public health campaigns and training for frontline staff. The government is taking the time to get the important decision on the future of prevention right and will publish next steps in the coming months.

The remaining 20% of funding will be directed to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Gambling Commission to develop bespoke Research Programmes on Gambling, undertaking vital research to inform future policy and regulation.

Claire Murdoch, NHS national director for mental health, said:

Problem gambling can completely ruin lives and the issue has skyrocketed, with NHS services treating record numbers and our latest data showing a staggering 129% increase in service referrals compared with the same period last year.

I am delighted to welcome this commitment to a mandatory gambling levy which the NHS, bereaved families and the voluntary sector have been calling for so we can treat this growing problem – and we will continue to work with government to do all we can to protect problem gamblers from this billion-pound industry.

Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones, National Clinical Advisor on Gambling Harms at NHS England, said:

Gambling harms have a devastating effect on people’s lives. We know that 2.5% of the population are gambling in a severe and harmful way but many more are affected, whether family members or gamblers already experiencing negative consequences but below the clinical threshold.

We recognise the need for more action, which is why I am thrilled to support the Government’s new levy, which will help us address the negative impact of gambling harms on communities using treatment, prevention and research through an independent evidence-based strategy at last.

Funding from the levy will be distributed to the NHS and UKRI, the umbrella body for research councils, by the Gambling Commission under the strategic direction of the government. The gambling industry will have no say over how money for research, prevention and treatment is spent.

The levy will be charged to all licensed gambling activity at varying levels depending on the sector and nature of the gambling activity to ensure impacts are proportionate. Rates take into account the difference in operating costs and the levels of harmful gambling associated with different gambling activities.

Minister for Health Andrew Gwynne said:

Tackling gambling harm is a crucial part of our commitment to support people to live longer, healthier lives.

This levy will provide an important funding boost for the NHS, whilst also enabling independent research and more effective prevention initiatives.

By making NHS England responsible for all treatment and support services for those experiencing gambling-related harms in England, we will ensure people are getting the most effective care possible.

Technological developments in recent years have paved the way for a dramatic shift in the ways people gamble. Gambling has moved away from betting shops and casinos to people being able to play anywhere, anytime, on their phones, leading to a significant increase in online gambling behaviour.

The levy and online slot stake limits announced today complements a raft of major changes the government and the Gambling Commission is delivering to make gambling safer in an age of technological advances. This includes including financial risk checks to better alert operators to risky behaviours and tighter controls on marketing.