The British Council provides the Secretariat for the UK Cultural Diplomacy Group.
The group uses the collective expertise, intelligence, assets and activities of its members to enhance the political, economic and social benefits of international cultural diplomacy activities of the whole of the UK. It contributes to the growth and standing of the UK’s culture sectors through improving opportunities for international engagement and cultural export through cultural diplomacy.
The Cultural Diplomacy Group focuses on planning and communication, creating and sharing learning, and pursuing shared opportunities.
The group aims to:
- improve the framework for the culture sectors to work effectively with cultural diplomacy agendas across the UK while exercising creative independence, through better mutual understanding of opportunities, needs and critical success factors
- share intelligence across the UK culture sectors to help organisations understand, engage with and benefit from a growing range of international opportunities
- help connect UK culture sectors with international opportunities for revenue generation and brand profiling through the work of the members
- increase understanding among UK policy makers of the value the culture sectors can add to international political, economic and social policy objectives.
Meet the members
Members include key UK cultural organisations involved in cultural diplomacy work overseas, UK and Devolved Governments and national Arts Councils.
Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales
Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales is a charity, and a family of seven national museums and one collections centre located across Wales.
Arts Council England
Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture.
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is the official funding and development organisation for the arts in Northern Ireland.
Barbican
The Barbican is an arts, learning, and conference centre in the heart of the City of London.
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is a British public service broadcaster owned and operated by the BBC. It broadcasts radio news and discussions in more than 40 languages to a global audience of 450 million.
Belfast International Arts Festival
Belfast International Arts Festival is the city’s longest-running international arts event.
British Film Institute
The British Film Institute (BFI) is a cultural charity, a National Lottery distributor, and the UK‘s lead organisation for film and the moving image.
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the UK.
British Museum
The British Museum is 'the first national public museum of the world.'
Creative Scotland
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives in, works or visits Scotland
Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru - The Arts Council of Wales
Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru - The Arts Council of Wales is the official body that funds and develops the arts in Wales.
Department for Business and Trade, UK Government
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the UK Government department for economic growth. It supports businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country.
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, UK Government
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is a UK Government department which supports culture, arts, media, sport, tourism and civil society across every part of England.
Edinburgh Festival City
Festivals Edinburgh is a strategic umbrella organisation bringing together Edinburgh’s leading Festivals to maintain and develop the Festivals’ and the Festival City’s leading position locally and globally.
Edinburgh Fringe
The Fringe is a three-week festival of performing arts that takes place in Edinburgh every August.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, UK Government
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) leads the UK's diplomatic, development and consular work around the world. FCDO is a ministerial department, supported by 11 agencies and public bodies.
Hay Festival Global
Hay Festival Global brings together diverse voices from the worlds of art, literature, science, politics, music and comedy to listen, talk, debate and create through one-of-a-kind festivals, in unique locations around the world.
The Heritage Alliance
The Heritage Alliance is England’s largest coalition of heritage interests, bringing together over 200 independent member organisations, who represent the full breadth of the sector.
Imperial War Museums
Imperial War Museums (IWM) is a global leader in developing and communicating a deeper understanding of the causes, course, and consequences of war.
Manchester International Festival
Run by Factory International, Manchester International Festival showcases brand new artistic work through its biennial festival in Manchester, and takes arts and culture from the north of England to the rest of the world through its international programme.
National Galleries Scotland
The National Galleries for Scotland has three Edinburgh galleries: the National, Modern and Portrait. The National Galleries house and care for Scotland’s world-class art collection.
National Museum Directors' Council
The National Museum Directors' Council represents the leaders of the UK's national collections and major regional museums.
National Museums Northern Ireland
National Museums NI preserves, protects and promotes Northern Ireland's cultural assets, knowledge and collective memory.
National Museums Scotland
National Museums Scotland is a combination of world-class collections, programmes, places and people. Through its multi-disciplinary collection, it preserves, interpret and makes accessible the past and present of Scotland, other nations and cultures, and the natural world.
National Theatre
The UK's National Theatre strives to make the world a better place through theatre; entertaining and inspiring audiences around the world, using its creativity, expertise and unique reach.
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is a world-class visitor attraction and leading science research centre.
Northern Ireland Executive Office
Northern Ireland Executive Office is managed by a Departmental Board, made up of senior staff who meet with the Head of the Civil Service every month to discuss strategic issues and to plan, priortise and report on progress.
Science Museum Group
The Science Museum Group comprises the Science Museum in London, the National Railway Museum in York, Locomotion in Shildon, the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester and the Science and Innovation Park in Wiltshire.
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland and has a range of responsibilities that include: the economy, education, health, justice, rural affairs, housing, environment, equal opportunities, consumer advocacy and advice, transport and taxation.
Scottish Opera
Scotland’s national opera company and the largest performing arts organisation in Scotland.
Southbank Centre
The largest arts centre in the UK, Southbank Centre has been the beating heart of London’s cultural life since 1951.
Tate Galleries
Tate's mission is to increase the public’s enjoyment and understanding of British art from the 16th century to the present day and of international modern and contemporary art.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) is a family of museums with a shared mission to champion design and creativity in all its forms, advance cultural knowledge, and inspire makers, creators and innovators everywhere.
Welsh Government
The Welsh Government is the devolved government for Wales.