Working with overseas offices and partners (such as festival directors, artistic programmers, venues, producers, art institutions, radio stations) we put together specific music programmes appropriate to the regions in which we work. These are very carefully planned according to British Council strategic objectives, local aims, tastes and needs and are generally planned a year or more in advance.

Our music programmes are put together based on:

• Our aims and objectives (globally and within each country)
• Our geographic priorities
• Our target audiences
• The suitability of a project for a particular country and audience
• The quality and appropriateness of a piece of work

Even if a project fulfils all of the above criteria we may still not be in a position to help with support due to other plans and budgets.

To find out more about our team of music specialists click here

Our Aims And Objectives

Our global arts team works with the best of British creative talent to develop innovative, high-quality events and collaborations that link thousands of artists and cultural institutions around the world, drawing them into a closer relationship with the UK. Read more about our aims and objectives here.

Our Geographic Priorities

We work across the world in the countries in which we have offices, but we do also always have specific geographic priorities. Particular priorities at present are:

• The Islamic World
• China
• EU accession countries and new member states
• Sub-Saharan Africa

Read more about our regional goals here.

Who Is Our Target Audience?

Young adults - roughly defined as being aged between 16 and 35. This is the age group that research indicates is most willing to countenance changing its impressions of another country and culture. We also frequently engage with older and younger audiences, depending on the population demographic in a particular country.

What Works Where?

What we programme in particular countries depends very much on audience taste, considerations of language, current perceptions of the UK, any need for developmental work and the cultural situation locally. Our UK arts team and arts managers in each region have extensive knowledge of all of these things and continually update this knowledge through dialogue with our partners, advisors and contacts.

How Do We Work With UK Artists?

We put together a music programme of UK work and collaborations with international artists in each region/country. This is planned over a year or longer with our offices overseas and in-country partners.

It's very rare that we can support artists who want to go abroad following an invitation from overseas and generally only if they fit in with our programme of work in that region/country and if there are funds available. Our programmes are our priority and therefore we are not often able to support or subsidise tours or bookings from third party sources (for example, an invitation to perform at a festival or a tour that requires subsidy).

The most important thing UK artists should do is to keep us up to date with the work you are doing – where and what you are touring, new partnerships you have forged etc... We need to know when you are performing so we can try and come and see the performances for assessment purposes.

Of equal importance, if you are in touch with the overseas promoters or producers who are keen to present your work, is to encourage them to make direct contact with their local British Council office in the first instance, to explore possibilities for collaboration and partnership.

How Do We Assess Work?

Within the UK offices, we have a specialist music team who frequently go and see performances, keep in touch with the music scene and network with UK and overseas contacts and audiences. Through this work we build up a picture of the UK music scene and work being created and an idea of whether a particular piece of work would be appropriate overseas.

How Do We Inform Our Networks About The British Music Scene?

If work is seen which seems particularly suitable for an overseas market we will actively promote it to our overseas partners and colleagues. New opportunities for British artists are constantly being created through this continual dialogue and advocacy.

Furthermore, we help overseas promoters and our own overseas arts managers that are visiting the UK, to see and choose a selection of work which will help them build up a broader, more accurate context for the work they see. We also organise specific visits to some music showcases and festivals.

The Selector radio show also helps to let a global audience know about what is going on in the UK music scene.