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Collections and cultural property

Collections and cultural property

Our nation’s collections are an unmatched cultural asset. It is essential that they are developed, celebrated and protected, so they can be enjoyed by as many people as possible. We provide standards, funding and advocacy to help in achieving this goal.

A collection of vintage toy cars.
Photo by Land Speed Record Toys. Photo © Tom Wood / National Motor Museum
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Combined arts

Combined arts

This includes festivals, carnivals, arts centres and presenting venues, rural touring networks and agencies. We want to offer audiences new experiences through high quality, ambitious art in a variety of spaces. We hope that this will provide more opportunities for a wide range of people to get involved with creating and experiencing art and culture.

Wildflower by Curious Arts, Summer Streets Festival 2021
Photo by Wildflower by Curious Arts, Summer Streets Festival 2021. Photo © Amelia Read.
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Dance

Dance

We fund and work with touring companies, development agencies and festivals, as well as individual artists and producers, all of whom work across a wide range of styles and in a wide range of settings. We hope to widen the understanding and appreciation of the many and varied kinds of dance.

A group of dancers on stage in low orange light
Photo by Arts Gateway MK: MOTUS 2016. Photo by Legge
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Libraries

Libraries

The library sector in England is incredibly exciting and dynamic. We believe that England’s network of libraries provides a vital resource for the development of creativity and the promotion of culture across this country.  They are the country’s most widespread and well-used cultural spaces, sitting at the heart of communities and often providing the first point of access to cultural activity. They help to build stronger, happier communities, support social prescribing, develop readers and promote digital literacy. We support the network of libraries through funding opportunities, advocacy, and national development work.

The Lost Librarian mechanical books, and participants using the books
Photo by Libraries Unlimited. Photo © Nick Hook.
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Literature

Literature

The literature sector in England is incredibly exciting and dynamic. We support poetry, fiction, life writing, spoken word, writing for children, literary translation and other forms of creative writing. The work we fund covers a range of media including print publishing, online, live performance and broadcast.

Settle Stories - Alia Alzougbi
Photo by Settle Stories - Alia Alzougbi. Photo © Settle Stories
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Museums

Museums

England has some of the finest regional museums in the world, with extraordinary collections ranging from the earliest prehistory to modern art and science.

Gareth Southgate looks at an exhibition of classic England football shirts at the National Football museum.
Photo by National Football Museum. Photo © COURTESY THE FA.
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Music

Music

We support many different musical genres and musical experiences, whether in traditional venues like concert halls, churches and schools, or unconventional spaces like swimming pools and car parks. The organisations we fund range from independent music producers and venues to large scale opera companies and orchestras, as well as music education for children and young people.

Ventnor Fringe Harbourside. Photo © Julian Winslow.
Photo by Ventnor Fringe Harbourside. Photo © Julian Winslow.
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Theatre

Theatre

Theatre in England is vibrant and thriving, with a diverse range of artists and companies producing varied and exciting work. The organisations we fund range from tiny fringe venues to large theatres with multiple spaces, as well as touring companies and those that make work for children, young people and their families. We’re also developing new ways to make productions available digitally.

Cast shots of BH Live Aladdin production 2019 – Richard Blackwood, David Ball and Noel Brodie.
Photo by BH Live. Aladdin pantomime, 2019. Photo (c) Allan Jones
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Visual arts

Visual arts

England has a dynamic visual arts sector that seeks constantly to reinvent itself, blurring boundaries and collaborating with other creative disciplines. We fund projects across a broad range of media, including painting, sculpture and film. We support artists to develop their work and reach more people, as well as encouraging more projects outside traditional gallery spaces.

To commemorate Mayflower 400 and the opening of The Box, Antony Gormley's sculpture LOOK II is permanently installed on West Hoe Pier.
Photo by LOOK II - Antony Gormley. The Box, Plymouth. Photo © Morwenna Fuge. credit
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