For engagement and freedom of expression
06 September 2012
We represent a broad spectrum of UK opinion – particularly in the arts.
Our Royal Charter directs us to share the UK’s achievements in education, the arts and the English language internationally. Wherever possible, we will seek to represent a broad range of UK achievement and expression.
In the UK, the boundaries of what is acceptable are very broad, particularly in the arts. This reflects the diversity, freedom of expression and celebration of difference that characterise UK society. Other countries and cultures draw these boundaries differently and, in common with analogue organisations, we take this into account when planning the detail of our work.
We respect the right of other governments, cultures and individuals to reject a particular work. However, it is inevitable that British Council- supported art work may at times be challenging and, on rare occasions, may cause offence.
We curate events in a way that allows a range of perspectives to be presented and explored. We aim to achieve a balance in perspectives across our arts programmes over time.
Where we are working with individuals who hold strong personal views about a particular country, we seek to balance that with alternative voices and points of view.
We are for engagement and against isolation, boycotts and censorship. We seek to create space for the free expression of ideas.
As a body that champions the values of the UK, we are deeply uncomfortable when freedom and human rights are compromised, but we do not support educational or cultural boycotts. We believe that continuing engagement and connecting people provides a better way forward than isolation.
In many countries, our work gives ordinary people a lifeline to the outside world, sometimes their only way to connect and contribute beyond their own borders.
We reflect and respect a broad spectrum of UK opinion. We understand that some people may not wish to engage with certain regimes and we respect their individual choices. We also respect the fact that others will want to engage.
We listen to different views and seek to understand the opinions and reasons of those who support boycotts, just as we hope that those who favour boycotts can understand our position. We are open to other points of view and we would encourage people to engage with us, not least to ensure we represent a broad spectrum of UK opinion.
We are first and foremost a people-to-people organisation. We work with governments, ministries and cultural and educational institutions, but above all, we seek to build trust and opportunity between people.
We believe that people-to-people links – whatever the government-to-government relations – make a powerful and lasting contribution to a more peaceful, tolerant and prosperous world.
We acknowledge the right of other governments and institutions to draw different boundaries for artistic expression than the UK does, but we will always want to represent the broadest possible range of UK arts and promote freedom of expression as part of our responsibility to fully represent the UK.
- Our work with China has divided opinion. We seek to work with the broadest possible spectrum of Chinese writers and artists while presenting the broadest possible range of UK arts to Chinese audiences.
- Our work in the Palestinian Territories and Israel divides opinion there and in the UK. We do not support boycotts, but inevitably, some of the people and organisations we work with differ and challenge our continuing engagement with people and institutions from either Israel or the Palestinian Territories.
- We are brokering a series of artistic exchanges and exhibitions between the UK and Russia which is bringing the people of both countries closer at a time when diplomatic and government relationships are also improving.
- In Burma, we offer uncensored access to the Internet, with a quarter of a million users coming to our libraries each year. Here, people can learn English and experience UK and international culture and freedom of expression in a safe, open environment. We have initiated a programme to train 10,000 English teachers a year in partnership with Burma’s Ministry of Education – this will improve the teaching of English for two million young Burmese each year.
- In Zimbabwe, we partner with local festivals such as the Harare International Festival of the Arts and Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo, as well as UK arts institutions such as the Young Vic to engage Zimbabwean arts groups and connect them with the UK arts sector.
- In Libya, we are running a comprehensive programme in English, the arts, education and society, supporting the country during its time of transition.
- In Syria, we remained open for over a year during the current crisis until we had to close for security reasons. Last year, Dr. Phillip Lee MP visited Syria and commented ‘I met some students who had had the opportunity provided by the British Council to learn English. At the end of the meeting, one of the students said of the British Council, “It is my bubble of oxygen. It is my opportunity to express myself”.’ We are planning for the day when we can once again provide this oxygen.
