DCMS Blog

Seconds out, it’s Heritage v Growth - Comments: 0

John Penrose — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:25:12 +0000

There are various universal truths that, despite not being true at all, remain obstinately stuck in people’s minds, however often evidence to the contrary is rolled out.

Marking the First World War’s centenary - Comments: 0

Diane Lees — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:49:31 +0000

Diane Lees, Director of Imperial War Museums (IWM), takes us through its plans to mark the anniversary of the first global conflict – and explains how you can get involved.

Celebrating the voluntary arts - Comments: 0

Robin Simpson — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:35:44 +0000

Are you part of an amateur theatre group? Do you sing in a choral group or go folk dancing? Well you're one of millions who reguarly take part in the voluntary arts. From 12 to 20 May this important sector will be highlighted and celebrated. Robin Simpson, chief executive of Voluntary Arts, explains why they're organising the first Voluntary Arts Week.

My Gold Challenge Goals - Comments: 0

Colin Gibson — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:40:28 +0000

Colin Gibson, a Policy Advisor in the DCMS Sports team, is used to providing expert advice on Olympic and Paralympic sport and athletes. But this year he’s clocking up hours of training himself after signing up for the Gold Challenge.

Building the Theatres Protection Fund - our first steps - Comments: 0

Mhora Samuel — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:23:37 +0000

Mhora Samuel, Director of the Theatres Trust, explains how the organisation's role has evolved in recent years to provide funding to theatres at risk and how its Small Grants Scheme - launched last month with support from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation - aims to help theatres better serve their communities.

Tourism Minister in ‘listening to the public’ shocker! - Comments: 0

John Penrose — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:42:32 +0000

How was your Easter, then? ‘Wet’ was somehow too small a word for it, as I recall. But that said, you’ve got to hand it to the British weather, haven’t you? Scorching sunshine, sleet, or snow – the only predictable thing about Easter weather is its stubborn refusal to be predictable. You can’t completely blame it on our capricious climate though. Part of the reason for its sheer unreliability is the fact that Easter Sunday can fall on any one of 35 possible dates, with the earliest being 22 March and the latest 25 April*.

Riding the slipstream - Comments: 0

Joanna Rowsell — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Team GB cyclist and Women’s Team Pursuit World title and record holder Joanna Rowsell tells us about her journey to 2012 and flies the flag for women’s cycling.

What sports red tape would you like slashed? - Comments: 0

Shaun Dawson — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:05:37 +0000

Lee Valley’s Chief Executive and our sports sector champion for the Red Tape Challenge Shaun Dawson, asks which rules and regulations you think get in the way of taking part in sport or running sports events.

Celebrating World Book Night and supporting public libraries - Comments: 0

Ed Vaizey — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:53:31 +0000

Today sees World Book Night, not just in the UK but also in Germany, Ireland and the US.

Location, location, location? - Comments: 0

Orian Brook — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:57:41 +0000

Orian Brook, PhD student at the University of St Andrews, is using CASE in her research to find out if the distance people live from arts venues influences their attendance.

The Truth about UK Hotel Prices – A Shock Expose - Comments: 0

John Penrose — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:01:12 +0000

Not really, to be honest. But I thought I’d try to grab your attention, the better to take you on a quick whizz through something called The Hotel Price Index, an annual publication that tracks what people are paying for hotel rooms across the world.

It was 20 years ago today... - Comments: 0

Toby Sargent — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:09:34 +0000

As DCMS celebrates its twentieth birthday, our Deputy Head of News (and 1992 veteran) Toby Sargent looks back on two decades of life as the Whitehall guardians of the nation’s ‘glittering trinkets’...

Tax relief incentive could signal sea change for UK developers - Comments: 0

Charles Cecil — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:42:54 +0000

Charles Cecil, Founder and Director of UK-based games developer Revolution Software, examines what the Government’s recent computer science education and tax relief proposals could mean for the future of the UK games industry.

The data trail - Comments: 0

John Davies — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 08:00:00 +0000

John Davies, English Heritage’s economist, shows how we can use data to find new ways to understand the impact of cultural and sporting investments.

IOC give London 2012 a final thumbs-up - Comments: 0

Hugh Robertson — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:21:05 +0000

After five years and ten visits, the last International Olympic Committee (IOC) inspection visit before London 2012 begins was in town last week

Better decision making with CASE - Comments: 0

Javier Stanziola — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:39:36 +0000

Dr Javier Stanziola, Lecturer in Management and Cultural Industries at the University of Leeds, looks at the value of the CASE programme as evidence in policy making.

Bigger and better - what the new Europa Centre means to me - Comments: 0

Zoe Smith — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:43:30 +0000

Seventeen-year-old weightlifter and Olympic hopeful Zoe Smith began her career with the Europa Gym Club, which was based on an industrial estate on the outskirts of East London. Thanks to funding from the Olympic Delivery Authority and Sport England, the club is getting a new state-of-the-art home, which officially opened this month.

Deux stars d'Harry Potter au secours du tourisme anglais - Comments: 0

John Penrose — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:09:56 +0000

You’ve probably seen it by now. We’re in a darkened room, and it’s 4.15AM on 19 May 2012*, as the bedside digital alarm clock bleeps into life. A family scrambles into action as their holiday gets underway. The dad is rummaging through the suitcase, while mum rushes around gathering the rest of the family together. They can’t find their passports! Somewhat improbably, Stephen Fry is also there in the room with them - and he’s got those passports in his hand - but the family, as they say, can’t see for looking.

Making the case for CASE - Comments: 0

James Doeser — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:36:55 +0000

James Doeser, Senior Officer, Research and Knowledge at the Arts Council kicks off a new series of blogs about the Culture and Sport Evidence programme.

The Fab Four, Noel Coward and a disconcerting webcam - Comments: 0

John Penrose — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:34:35 +0000

So Wednesday found me on the 08.07 train from London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street for two bits of business: a speech at a VisitEngland tourism business forum, and a rather special photo opportunity. The press call was at an outwardly unremarkable 1930s semi in Menlove Avenue, a suburban street a few minutes’ drive from the station. I was there to confer Grade II listed building status on it, and a larger-than-usual posse of snappers, TV cameras and radio reporters had come along to see me do the deed.

There Beneath the Blue Suburban Skies: the listing of Mendips and 20 Forthlin Road - Comments: 0

Emily Gee — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 12:43:12 +0000

How did two 'ordinary' houses in Liverpool come to join castles, churches and palaces among the listed buildings of England? Emily Gee of English Heritage tells the story of how two 'resolutely representative' - but culturally significant - dwellings took their place in history.

How the UK's children can benefit from a cultural education - Comments: 0

Darren Henley — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 09:27:10 +0000

In 2011 Darren Henley, Managing Director of Classic FM, was asked to carry out an independent review of cultural education across England. As the review is published, he explains why we should create a cultural education system that is the envy of the world.

Football with Cairo's street children - Comments: 0

Ian O'Neill — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:51:56 +0000

Last month Egypt became the twentieth country to join London 2012's International Inspiration programme to help countries improve their sports provision. Ian O'Neill, from the Legacy Team at the Government Olympic Executive, travelled to the country to find out more about how sport can help the thousands of children trying to eke out an existence on Cairo's streets.

Lottery Winners, Posh backing GREAT and a Blue Plaque for the Inventor of Coronation Chicken - Comments: 0

John Penrose — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:23:14 +0000

Exciting news from the press office downstairs here at the Department last week. Their syndicate won the Lottery.

Bomber Command, the Taxman and a Happy Ending - Comments: 0

John Penrose — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:28:30 +0000

Memorials – and war memorials in particular – matter. Virtually nobody’s left who has any first-hand memory of the First World War, and the number of people still alive today who lived through the Second World War is dwindling by the year, but the collective memory of those terrible times remains strong.

Shakespeare, sculpture and sustainable fashion - Comments: 0

Jo Morrison — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:23:14 +0000

Jo Morrison, Digital Projects Director at Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, continues her blog series looking at how her institution and the other colleges that make up the University of the Arts London are embracing the creative and cultural opportunities offered by London 2012.

200 days until the Games come home - Comments: 0

Craig Hunter — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:02:34 +0000

From Saturday, Paralympic hopefuls across the world will have just 200 more days to prepare for London 2012. ParalympicsGB's Craig Hunter explains how the British team are preparing during the final countdown to the Games and why they are determined to be a credit to the vision of Paralympics creator Dr Ludwig Guttman.

Jedward, World Heritage, Hors d’Oeuvre (with or without an ‘s’) and Punch and Judy - Comments: 0

John Penrose — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

There have been some truly magnificent TV programmes about our built heritage over the years. Fine historic buildings set in glorious British landscapes make for splendid television.

Report done – but this is only the beginning - Comments: 0

Dinah Caine — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:30:56 +0000

Six months ago the Creative Industries Council asked us to set up the Skillset Skills Group and me to chair it. Our remit was to advise them on what is needed to make sure we continue to have the people with the skills and talent that will make the UK Creative Industries world-beating.

Red tape, Lester Piggott and a little flutter (or not) in the departure lounge - Comments: 0

John Penrose — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:21:45 +0000

Type “red tape” into Google and 0.32 seconds later your computer coughs up a tidy 13.3 million results*. “Cutting red tape”, on the other hand, pulls down a more modest 700,000 entries.

Welcoming the world's media - Comments: 0

Mandy Murphy — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:12:50 +0000

It is just six months until the London 2012 Games officially begins. While most eyes will be focused on the athletes once the competition gets underway, a huge team of people will be working hard behind the scenes to make sure everything runs smoothly for those competing in and following the Olympics and Paralympics. Up to 70,000 of these workers will be volunteers from the Games Maker scheme. Media officer Mandy Murphy explains why she's giving up her time to be part of the press operations team at London 2012.

Surveys, statistics and free teacakes in Brighton - Comments: 0

John Penrose — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:13:35 +0000

You’ve probably read the stories. The Olympic and Paralympic Games this year are going to be just dire for tourism. Apparently. And the West End of London will be a ghost town, with many theatres simply putting up the shutters for the duration because there is, quite simply, no demand for tickets while the games are going on. Apparently.

Sporting legacies and Olympic fever - Comments: 0

Hugh Robertson — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:09:24 +0000

I was woken by the DCMS Press Officer on New Year’s Day to find the media alight with Olympic fever and a story about betting integrity on the front page of the Sunday Times. Hours later, a BBC News crew was standing outside my house to do an interview. It was a definite reminder, not that one was needed, that 2012 is here and that the next nine or so months are going to be very busy indeed.

Bring out your measures! - Comments: 12

Claire Donovan — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:45:05 +0000

Building on my first Priceless? blog, this week I’d like to issue a challenge: how many measures of ‘cultural value’ can you think of?

Scandals, Weary Old Nonsense and a Christmas Cover-up - Comments: 0

John Penrose — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:37:26 +0000

The headline on page two of The Sun on Boxing Day screamed ‘POOR LOSE OUT IN LOTTO COVER-UP’.

Worse, the article – badged EXCLUSIVE – began with the sinister claim that ‘Ministers were yesterday accused of helping Lotto bosses cover up a grants scandal that penalises the poor.’ ‘How dare they?’ I inwardly screamed. For if there’s one thing I particularly dislike in public life it’s a scandal. Or a cover-up, come to that. And if both are directed in some way to ‘penalise the poor’, then my politician’s blood starts to boil and my parliamentarian’s pulse starts to race.

From ZX Spectrums to Google and how programming skills allow creativity to flourish - Comments: 0

Alex Evans — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:49:56 +0000

Alex Evans, programming guru and co-founder of Guildford based Media Molecule video games studio (which brought us Little Big Planet) on how good programming skills are merely the foundation for creative content creation, while casting his mind back to the birth of the home gaming era.

Welcome to the 'Priceless?' blog - Comments: 31

Claire Donovan — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:28:21 +0000

This interactive blog seeks to stimulate discussion across the cultural sector on the very idea of measuring cultural value. Dr Claire Donovan is an academic working at DCMS to write a report on this issue, and wants to know what you think. Can the value of culture be measured by government in monetary (or other) terms, or is it ‘priceless’?

A year in the making: reflecting on 12 months of fascinating Creative Bursary placements - Comments: 0

Kate Danielson — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:24:54 +0000

At the beginning of 2011, the Bursary Blog started following a group of arts graduates taking their first steps in the creative industries thanks to the DCMS Jerwood Creative Bursaries Scheme. They took us behind the scenes with blogs and vlogs showing us what their organisations do, what their jobs involved and what it meant to them to get the opportunity to start work in the arts industry. As the year draws to a close, scheme director Kate Danielson from the Jerwood Foundation looks back at what has been achieved.

The Brian Cox effect? - Comments: 0

Roger Highfield — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:17:22 +0000

Celebrating 10 years of free entry to national museums, we're featuring guest blogs from across the wide range of DCMS-sponsored museums.
Today, Roger Highfield, former Editor of New Scientist and current Director of External Affairs at the National Museum of Science and Industry, takes a look at how geek chic and the charms of a handsome keyboard-player-turned-physicist have transformed perception of our scientific heritage.

How to make domino spirals out of 1,000 hardback books - Comments: 0

Michelle Thomas — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:20:45 +0000

From naked bike rides to an unusual version of dominos via the mysteries of gaffa tape, arts graduate Michelle Thomas fills us in on what she's learnt from her placement at an opera company through the DCMS Jerwood Creative Bursaries Scheme.

Growing the grassroots game - Comments: 0

Hugh Robertson — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:35:22 +0000

Football is our national sport and is a big part of daily life. Whether it’s watching, playing or supporting our favourite teams, football is in our blood.

S Club 7, Cilla Black and Free Admission to the National Museums and Galleries - Comments: 0

John Penrose — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:05:07 +0000

Check out Saturday 1 December 2001 on one of those ‘On this day’ websites and you get pretty slim pickings. S Club 7 went straight to No. 1 in the charts with ‘Have you ever’, a song that I confess I can’t instantly call to mind, although the absence of a question mark in the title remains a mystery, even ten years on.

Marking ten years of free entry to our national museums - Comments: 0

Jeremy Hunt — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:16:59 +0000

If you’re soaking up the culture of an overseas city, alongside enjoying a good meal and perhaps visiting a show, you might decide to drop into a national museum.

Leaving no stone unturned - Comments: 0

Julz Adeniran — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:09:58 +0000

Olympic hopeful Julz Adeniran joined Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt in Worcester earlier this month at a School Games summit with schools from the West Midlands. The 110m hurdler explains why he is backing the School Games and how he is aiming for selection for Team GB.

The Regional Tour rolls on, Dreamland and Mexican Cornish Pasties - Comments: 0

John Penrose — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 11:19:53 +0000

Last week was busier than usual. Or so it seemed, as we completed stages two and three of the Regional Tour to help promote the tourism potential that comes along with the Olympics next year.

The producers - Comments: 0

Hannah Clarke-Stamp — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:56:08 +0000

What does a theatre producer actually do? After 12 months working for The Empty Space, which produces and supports theatre in the north of England, Hannah Clarke-Stamp has the answer. She reflects on her twelve-month placement at the company through the DCMS Jerwood Creative Bursaries Scheme and what the future holds for her.

The talent is out there - Comments: 0

Natalie Dunman — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:25:54 +0000

Natalie Dunman, Lead Talent Scientist with the English Institute of Sport (EIS) working as part of the UK Talent Team, explains how the Power2Podium campaign is identifying the next generation of winners and Olympians.

Promoting safety in all sports grounds – our new role - Comments: 0

Ruth Shaw — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:42:49 +0000

Ruth Shaw, Chief Executive of the Sports Grounds Safety Authority shares her excitement about the opportunities and challenges which lie ahead for the SGSA.

Bringing the World Athletics Championships to the UK - Comments: 0

Hugh Robertson — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:08:32 +0000

Last Friday was a fantastic day for British sport as London was named host city for the 2017 World Athletics Championships.

Christmas lights, tackling displacement and some thoughts on Remembrance - Comments: 0

John Penrose — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:12:50 +0000

Christmas officially kicked off in London this week with the Regent Street lights* being switched on by last year’s X Factor winner, one of this year’s judges, a former Spice Girl, a DJ and the splendid British actor, Bill Nighy. Hopefully the IT crowd downstairs will be able to post a nice picture.