We are a cultural relations organisation and our work aims to build engagement and trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people worldwide. Consequently, the British Council only offers support to arts and creative economy work that is likely to contribute to the development of cultural relations between the UK and the rest of the world.

We do not have any funds to help with the publication of books. We suggest you contact publishers to see if they are interested in your novel. British literary publishers are listed in the Writers’ and Artists' Yearbook (published annually by A & C Black) with an indication of the type of books that they publish.

The Literature Department also does not fund the translation of books. If you can find a publisher for your book,often they can obtain grants for publishing translations. The Arts Council(s) provide grants to publishers for translations.

If you have been invited to a conference overseas or want to research a book overseas the British Council may be able to consider a request for assistance with your travelling expenses to an overseas destination if the request comes from a host institution and is addressed to our office in the country concerned. This is because we can only fund such visits if there is going to be a benefit to the host institution (and to the host country) and if it is in line with local priorities, providing that the funds available for that country are not already fully committed. The names and addresses of the British Council offices are available here.

More information on wider British Council Arts Department funding can be found our FAQs pages.