Our main purpose is to develop and increase knowledge and appreciation overseas of the UK’s achievements in visual arts.

We work closely with our offices overseas and collaborate with professional colleagues in Britain and abroad to create a range of activities and events including touring exhibitions, workshops, seminars and conferences led by British artists plus study programmes in the UK for overseas visitors.

Our programme reflects the wide range of disciplines practised to a world class standard in the UK including painting, sculpture, video, photography, and digital art.

Visual Arts Funding

If you’re a UK-based professional visual artist and you have an exhibition overseas, then we may be able to help you via our Grants to Artists scheme. Find out more about the criteria for our Grants to Artists scheme and how to apply here.

British Council Collection

For more than 60 years the British Council has been collecting works of art, and on our newly launched website you can find out about our international touring exhibitions, watch artist installation videos, and view artists' works and biographies.

Visual Arts Library

With more than 25,000 books and exhibition catalogues, our library focuses on post-1945 British art. The Library is a library of last resort and is for reference only, but is open by appointment to visitors and researchers.

Contact Us

Details of how to contact the British Council Arts Group.