British Council Connections Through Culture Grants 2026
The British Council is calling for applications from artists or organisations for their Connections Through Culture (CTC) grants programme, which supports creative collaborations between the UK and select countries.
Grants are available to support creative practitioners, cultural professionals, artists, organisations, festivals, biennials, hubs and collectives to develop and deliver projects across a range of themes and art forms.
In 2026, CTC incorporates grants programmes formerly known as Biennials Connect (Visual Arts) and Architecture, Design and Fashion Biennials and Festivals Grants. It is also the major Arts grants programme for 2026, in place of International Collaboration Grants.
Eligible activity may include the following:
- Co-creation and collaborative artistic development
- Residencies and exchanges
- Workshops, panels, talks and knowledge-sharing activity
- Research and development
- Collaborative exhibitions, performances, presentations and showcases
- Festivals and biennials activity
- Digital innovation
- Showcasing activity (including biennale and festival participation, where the showcase constitutes a collaborative project between partners in the UK and participating countries)
- Public programmes and audience engagement
- Artist, designer, practitioner or participant development
- Capacity building and shared learning
- Interdisciplinary or cross-artform activity
Eligibility
Organisations and individuals are eligible to apply.
Participating countries are: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Mainland China, Egypt, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, UK, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, and Viet Nam.
Grant
Each country partnership is eligible for a specific amount, ranging from 5,000 GBP to 15,000 GBP.
British Council Connections Through Culture Grants 2026
Deadline: 12 August 2026