Catalogue description Records of the Arts and Libraries Branch and predecessor

Suggestions that government should be active in the field of the arts and that central grant aid should be available for public libraries and museums had begun in the years immediately after the Second World War, including the suggestion that a separate ministry for the arts should be established. Little progress on this front was, however, made until after the formation of the Department of Education and Science (DES) in 1964. A white paper, A Policy for the Arts was published in February 1965 and as a consequence, responsibility for the arts was transferred from the Treasury to the DES. This included responsibility for the Advisory Council and Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art.

Responsibility for the arts function was added to the remit of the External Relations Branch which consequently changed its name in 1966 to the Arts, Intelligence and External Relations Branch. The Branch administered grants to major institutions, especially to the national museums and galleries, the Arts Council, National Film Institute and National Sound Institute. It was also concerned with the provision of funding for the National Theatre on the South Bank, London. In 1970 a new Arts and Libraries Branch was set up to deal specifically with these matters.

The Secretary of State delegated his responsibility in this field to a Joint Parliamentary Under Secretary (later Minister of State) until, in 1970, responsibility was delegated to the Paymaster General. After the general election of 1974, direct responsibility was resumed within the DES under a Minister for the Arts.

In November 1979, an Office of Arts and Libraries was created and responsibility for arts and libraries was transferred to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.