Government Offices provide a regional focus for the
Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) policies on sport,
arts, museums and galleries, libraries and archives, heritage and
architecture, the creative industries (music, film and broadcasting),
tourism, the lottery, licensing and gambling.
Government Offices help promote DCMS’ strategic
priorities by:
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Increasing access for children and young people to
culture and sport
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Improving the take up of cultural and sporting
opportunities by adults and young people aged 16 and above, from
priority groups
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Ensuring DCMS sponsored bodies are efficient and
work effectively with others to meet cultural and sporting needs of
individuals and communities
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Maximising the contribution that tourism and the
creative and leisure industries can make to economic development and
regeneration
This involves much partnership working with a wide range
of regional bodies, local authorities, the voluntary sector and private
organisations, with Government Offices taking a cross-departmental approach
to ensure cohesion of policy delivery.
Government Offices work to promote and integrate the
culture agenda, not only in the work of local authorities and Local
Strategic Partnerships, but also within the major regional strategies such
as the Regional Economic Strategies and the Regional Spatial
Strategies.
In London the Government Office for London plays a key
role in liaising with the Greater London Authority.
Outside London, Government Offices work closely with the
Regional Cultural Consortiums. These champion the whole spectrum of
cultural and creative interests in each region, including tourism and
sport. The Consortiums provide a strong regional focus, bringing together
all those with interests in the cultural sectors; they also have a role in
central policy-making, regional data collection and research. Government
Offices support the Consortiums in the implementation of their Regional
Cultural Strategies and action plans.
The Government Office network also supports tourism
initiatives and works closely with regional offices of the Lottery
distributing bodies. We also work to increase understanding of how creative
industries and tourism can contribute much to regeneration and economic
development, with an emphasis on neighbourhood renewal, education and
health.