The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is the UK government department responsible for policy on the arts, sport, the National Lottery, tourism, libraries, museums and galleries, broadcasting, film, the music industry, press freedom and regulation, licensing, gambling and the historic environment. The DCMS is also responsible for the listing of historic buildings and scheduling of ancient monuments, the export licensing of cultural goods, the management of the Government Art Collection and for the Royal Parks Agency. Its aims are to improve the quality of life for all through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. Its role in Scotland was reduced with the devolution of most arts, cultural and heritage responsibilities to the Scottish Executive. The DCMS is the smallest UK Government Department with less than 500 staff and a public spending budget of £3,338 million (2003).

The DCMS's Arts Division is responsible for funding the contemporary and 'living' arts. It sets the broad framework for activity but does not directly manage any project work. It achieves its goals via its 'arm's length public bodies', the most significant of which in the arts and cultural sector are the Arts Council England (ACE) and The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. It retains responsibility for broadcast media in Scotland, but otherwise its direct relationships are with English-based Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs).

DCMS has achieved a considerable increase in funding for the arts (in England), which is projected to rise from £186 million in 1997 to £410 million in 2005/06 (a 120% increase). DCMS estimates that in addition to its contribution, c £500 million is contributed to the arts by English local authorities; c £200 million from Lottery sources (other than ACE Lottery); and c £114 million from the private sector. DCMS regards this “mixed economy” as a healthy resourcing model for the arts and concentrates its work on developing this pluralist approach.

The international work includes some major project activities - such as the Entente Cordiale celebrations 2004, the UK Presidency of the EU in 2005 and London's Olympic Bid for 2012. DCMS liaises with the devolved administrations of Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland on cultural affairs and has a role as the national advocate for the inclusion of arts and culture in the agendas of the Council of Europe, European Union, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the World Bank, especially in relation to the economic opportunities that flow from cultural and artistic activities. DCMS is also now working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in developing the role of the UK arts within the UK Government's overall public diplomacy agenda.

DCMS’s Creative Industries Division (CID) has lead responsibility within Whitehall for co-ordinating and taking forward ministerial objectives and policy for the Creative Industries. DCMS champions the UK’s creative industries, raises their profile and helps them reach their full potential at home and overseas. DCMS also plays a role in briefing foreign officials on the UK’s approach to the creative industries. CID consists of three branches: Music Industry Sponsorship, Press and Media classification; Film Sponsorship and Certification; and a general policy branch dealing with exports, education and strategy. CID’s export team plays a co-ordinating role between DCMS, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), the Industry Groups, and where appropriate, British Council and the DTI. CID also provides Secretariat support to the Performing Arts International Group (PAID) preparing meeting agendas in co-operation with UKTI, tracking membership, taking forward action points and managing the contract for PAID’s industry driver, Independent Theatre Council (ITC) in liaison with UKTI. CID also provides secretariat support to the Creative Exports Group and its specific working groups.