Explore Our Year in Arts 2025

[British Council Arts]

Look back at the best of 2025 and discover our latest arts opportunities, news and events.

View in browser Arts Newsletter Our Year in Arts 2025 2025 has been another remarkable year for our Arts teams in the UK and around the world. We've supported artists and creatives globally to build peace and prosperity, strengthen social cohesion, inspire hope, and bring new perspectives to the global issues we all face.  Peace-building remains at the heart of what we do. Our new Artist Residency Programme, delivered in partnership with leading cultural institutions across the UK, is supporting artists and creatives from Lebanon, Yemen, Palestine and Ukraine whose work has been impacted by war and conflict.   Our work helps to build prosperity within cultural sectors and creative industries around the world. Through three bilateral seasons in 2025, we’ve showcased the work of creatives and artists from Kenya, Poland and Brazil, opening doors to new markets, audiences and opportunities across the UK and our partner nations.    Kenya was also centre stage at the British Pavilion at Venice Architecture Biennale. We were delighted to be awarded the Biennale's Special Mention for National Participation for GBR – The Geology of Britannic Repair, our groundbreaking collaboration between a UK and Kenyan curatorial team.    Digital innovation has been at the forefront of our work this year. In partnership with tech and digital leaders and creatives we launched a major report: Why technology needs artists. The study, which brings together international perspectives, is already influencing new practices across tech, digital and artistic fields and will continue to inform our programme for years to come.    When the British Council was set up in 1934, the world faced huge challenges, which our innovative programme—led by artists, creatives and educators—aimed to meet. Today the world still faces challenges, and the British Council is still here, still led by innovative artists, creatives and partners, all contributing to the economic and social strength of their communities through international exchange.   Seasons greetings to you all – we look forward to building more creative connections around the world with you in 2026.   Ruth Mackenzie, Director Arts Read more of our 2025 highlights Our latest opportunities and news Alternative Narratives Grants Have you begun a creative response to climate change but need funding? We’ll be supporting three new UK-Malaysia creative collaborations that aim to tackle the climate crisis through the power of arts, science and technology. Each will receive £20,000 in funding. Apply by 11 January. Learn more Wales/China Travel Grants 2026 We’re offering grants of up to £3,000 for Wales-based arts organisations to travel to mainland China in 2026. Trips can be used to explore the cultural landscape, meet potential partners and spark future collaboration. There's a drop-in session on 8 January and applications close 8 February. Learn more Open Call: Shape the British Pavilion 2027 We're inviting exhibition proposals for the British Council commission at the 20th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia 2027. UK-Malaysia collaborative teams with proven experience in developing and delivering exhibitions can apply until 14 January 2026. Learn more Curate DAE: Creative Bootcamp We're looking for UK suppliers to deliver training in the form of masterclasses, workshops, or mentoring sessions to 15 entrepreneurs participating in Argentine Exponential Design: Creative Bootcamp. Individuals, organisations or consortiums can apply until 5 January. Learn more Selector After Dark in Japan Selector Radio's sister show, Selector After Dark, presents weekly fresh DJ mixes. A few weeks ago, it went live globally with Mo Ayobe DJing in Mexico; Bianca Scout, Lauren Duffus and Rainy Miller in Poland and Fourth Daughter, twst and Miso Extra at Osaka Expo, Japan. Hear our Japan highlights. Listen now History Hit's Ancient Adventures: Libya In the first documentary produced in Libya since 2011, Dan Snow and Bill Locke highlight the Cultural Protection Fund projects preserving cultural heritage, and the efforts to boost tourism in the region. These include the work of World Monuments Fund, Palestine Exploration Fund and MarEA. Watch now Image credits from left to right: 1. Celtic Fandango-Alhóndiga at Cervantino, image: Jacqueline Reynoso. 2. Alternative Narratives, image: KC Chong Studio. 3. Wales/China Travel Grants, image: Mat Wright. 4. British Pavilion Venice 2025, image: Chris Lane, 5. Curate DAE Creative Bootcamp, image: DAE Creative Bootcamp. 6. Selector After Dark, Fourth Daughter performing, image: UK Pavilion at Expo 2025. 7. Ancient Adventures: Libya, image: © History Hit. © British Council - The United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. A registered charity: 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland) Unsubscribe | Manage Preferences   You have received this newsletter because you have registered for updates.