The British Council is not a funding body, though we do offer some small grants for film makers via the Short Film Promotion scheme.

In the past we were able to offer some assistance for visual artists exhibiting internationally through our Grants to Artists Scheme. Following the reduction in grant-in-aid to the British Council announced at the last Spending Review, the British Council will be re-negotiating the terms on which it is able to offer support to young artists invited to show their work internationally. We are currently in discussion with Arts Council England for an expanded scheme jointly managed by both organisations. Negotiations will take place during the coming financial year (1 April 2011-31 March 2012), but in the meantime, we regret that the Grants to Artists Scheme is suspended from now on.

We work on many arts events every year. The focus of our work differs from country to country; in some places we have an extensive arts programme, in others we may organise just a few events a year. We look for arts work that is both excellent of its type, and fits with our strategic objectives in that country or region. Arts work that may resonate in one country may be inappropriate in another. Our arts specialists in the UK constantly seek out new work and assess its general suitability for touring abroad, whilst our arts managers overseas have an in-depth knowledge of their local scene and know what will work well with their audiences.

To find out more about the British Council Arts Group please click here