The UK government has announced it is seeking bids to ensure a painting by Sir Stanley Spencer remains in the country. The artwork, titled The Resurrection of the Good and the Bad, was completed in 1915 and is considered a significant piece for understanding Spencer’s artistic development. The painting is a diptych, meaning it consists of two panels, with one showing "the Good" and the other "the Bad." It is currently under an export ban, which prevents it from leaving the UK unless a UK-based buyer is found. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) stated that the painting should remain in the UK in the hope that a gallery or cultural institution will purchase it. Bids for the artwork are being welcomed until mid-December, with a recommended price of £450,000. This recommendation is part of a process designed to ensure important cultural items stay accessible to the public and continue to be studied and appreciated in the UK. The export ban was recommended by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA), which evaluates the cultural significance of artworks before deciding whether to allow their export. The recommendation was accepted by arts minister Ruth Mackenzie, who emphasized the importance of preserving the UK’s artistic heritage. The RCEWA is an independent body that advises the government on cultural matters. Mark Hallett, a member of the RCEWA, highlighted the painting’s importance in understanding Spencer’s artistic practice. He noted that the work is deserving of further research and that its preservation in the UK would benefit both scholars and the public. The effort to keep the painting in the UK reflects a broader commitment to protecting and promoting the nation’s cultural assets.