The core objectives of the department are based on the following constitutional and other legislative mandates, functional mandates and the service delivery improvement programme:

Constitutional mandate

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa

Legislative and policy mandates

Legislative mandates

• The Northern Cape Provincial Archives Act (Act 7 of 2013) – It provides for the proper management and care of the records of governmental bodies; the preservation and use of a provincial archival heritage; and to provide matters connected therewith.
• The National Heritage Resources Act (Act 25 of 1999) - This Act is the legislation according to which the Provincial Heritage Resources Authority functions and sets the standards according to which the South African Heritage Resources Agency will evaluate provincial operations.  The Act sets out the system for identification, management, conservation and protection of heritage resources.
• The National Sport and Recreation Act (Act 110 of 1998) – Provides for the promotion and development of sport and recreation and the co-ordination of the relationship between the Sports Commission, national and recreation federations and other agencies; to provide for measures aimed at correcting imbalances in sport and recreation; to promote equity and democracy in sport and recreation and to provide for dispute resolution mechanisms in sport and recreation.
• The Cultural Affairs Act (Act 65 of 1989) - This is the piece of legislation under which the Northern Cape Arts & Culture Council (NCACC) is appointed, receives provincial funding and allocates funds to a variety of areas in living arts in the Province.
• The Pan South African Language Board Act (Act 59 of 1995) – To establish a Pan South African Language Board for the recognition, implementation and furtherance of multilingualism in South Africa.
• Local Government Municipal Structure Act (Act 117 of 1998) – The functions for library and museum services now becomes an exclusive provincial competency.
• Municipal Structures Act, 1999 (Act No. 117 of 1998) (as amended by Act No. 33 of 2000): Excludes libraries, museums and cultural facilities as areas of responsibility of the local authorities, as this Act is based on the legislative framework provided by the Constitution.  Local governments argue that they no longer have any legal authority to render these services; should they continue to do so; it would constitute unauthorised expenditure.
• South African Library for the Blind Act, 1998 (Act No. 91 of 1998): Provides for library and information services to blind and print handicapped readers through the South African Library for the Blind.
• National Council for Library and Information Services Act (Act 6 of 2001) – Council established to monitor library services throughout South Africa and advice the Minister of Arts and Culture and Minister of Education on matters relating to library and information services.
• Legal Deposit Act, 1997 (Act No. 54 of 1997) - Provides for the preservation of the national documentary heritage through the legal deposit of published documents, thus ensuring the preservation of and access to published documents and government information emanating from and adapted for South Africa.  It makes provision for the establishment of at least one place of legal deposit in each Province.
• South African Geographical Names Act (Act 118 of 1998) – Section 2(1) (a) of the Act provides for the establishment of a Provincial Geographical Names Committee.  This advisory body advises the Minister of Arts and Culture and the Provincial MECs on the transformation and standardisation of geographical names in South African. 
• Electronic Communication and Transactions Act (Act 25 of 2002) - This Act seeks to ensure the legitimacy, accuracy, verifiability and functionality of electronic records and transactions.
• World Heritage Convention Act (Act 49 of 1999) - Broadly speaking the Act governs South Africa and therefore the Province’s mandate to act under the terms of UNESCO’s World Heritage Convention.  Section 8 is of specific relevance as it is through via its provisions that the responsibilities of the MEC for Sport, Arts & Culture will be delegated powers to manage the Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape World Heritage Site.
• Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 – To give effect to the constitutional right of access to any information held by the state and any information held by another person and that is required for the exercise or protection of any rights, and to provide for matters connected therewith.
• Administrative Justice Act 3 of 2000 – To give effect to the right to administrative action that is lawful, reasonable and procedurally fair and to the right to written reasons for administrative action as contemplated in the Constitution and to provide for matters incidental thereto.

Policy Mandates

• The Museums Ordinance Act 8 of 1975 – The ordinance establishes the system according to which all museums receiving support from the department are established.  It prescribes various systems for the operation of museums at community, local authority and provincial level and sets minimum standards for museological practice.
• The National Sport and Recreation Plan – The NSRP was adopted in 2011 with the emphasis of reposition of sport and recreation in the country. The plan is geared towards promoting a healthy, active and winning nation. Key to this notion is the promotion of school sport as the bedrock towards sport development
• The White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage - Published in 1996, this document is the broad national policy statement for the arts and culture field, which was compiled through processes in which all nine provincial governments participated.  It was adopted by the Arts and Culture MINMEC as the broad policy statement for all provinces and the national Department of Arts & Culture.
• Provincial Library Service Ordinance 16 of 1981 – This ordinance establishes the system according to which all libraries receiving support from the Department are established.  It prescribes systems for the operation of local authority libraries and the Provincial Library Service and sets minimum standards for library practice.
• Substitution of notice 120 of 1997 concerning norms and rules for Provincial Language Committees – Provides for the establishment of a Provincial Language Committee to regulate and monitor the use of the designated official languages by the government.
• Substitution of notice 121 of 1997 concerning norms and rules for National Language Board – National Language Bodies is established primarily as language development agencies with specific emphasis on standardization in respect of all official languages.
• Blue Print on Mass Participation – This document guides the department to focus on Mass Participation based on Recreational activities and to adhere to DORA (Division of Revenue Act) requirements.
• The Memorandum of understanding on the Integrated Framework for School Sport articulates the promotion of school sport in the country. The framework further defines the roles and responsibilities between the SRSA and the DOE.
• National Transformation Charter - the vision with this charter is to achieve an active and winning nation in which equitable access to, and opportunities and support in sport and recreation activities contribute to the development of a healthy, productive, united, non-racist, non-sexist South Africa.
• Convention Concerning the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (UNESCO 1972): – The convention sets out the basic operations of UNESCO’s World Heritage programme, including the broad responsibilities of state parties to the Convention.
• Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention (UNESCO WHC. 05/2 February 2005): – Amongst other things these Guidelines set out the specific responsibilities of state parties to the World Heritage Convention for the management and administration of World Heritage Sites.
• Official Notice 5 of 2003 (Northern Cape Provincial Gazette 744, Notice 5): – Establishes ‘Ngwao Boswa Kapa Bokone’ as the Provincial Heritage Resources Authority in terms of Section 23 of the National Heritage Resources Act and sets our procedures in terms of which its Council is appointed and ways in which it is required to function.
• Northern Cape Sport and Recreation Authority Act (Act 4 of 2015) - It unifies the regulation of sport into one body bringing into an end the existence of NC Sport Academy and the NC Sport Council. The NC Sport Confederation becomes the umbrella body for sport development in the province.