We currently run an awards programme called Young Creative Entrepreneurs.

What are the Young Creative Entrepreneur Awards and how do I get involved in the programme?
The aim of the Young Creative Entrepreneur programme is to highlight the importance of entrepreneurship to the development of a sustainable and competitive creative economy. It recognises the particular skills required by creative entrepreneurs and champions them as the next generation of leaders within the creative sector. It positions them as key agents, in global cultural exchange and the extension of wider and better cultural relations.

For more information on the awards, criteria for entry, how to apply, and regular updates on the programme please see the Creative Economy website.

Where can I find information on upcoming British Council arts events in the UK or overseas?
Please see our Arts Homepage or the various art form sections for up to date information on forthcoming events, or you can send an email to arts@britishcouncil.org and specify which art form events you are interested in. For overseas events you can also check the specific country pages for events in your country of interest.

Where can I find information on any upcoming non-British Council arts events in the UK or overseas?
We are not able to offer a comprehensive listing of arts events in the UK. You may wish to have a look at Visit Britain or Time Out for this information.

For more than 60 years the British Council has been collecting works of art, craft and design to promote abroad the achievements of our artists, craft practitioners and designers. The collection, started in the late 1930s with a modest group of works on paper, has now grown to a collection of more than 8,000 works covering all media and all aspects of British art and design of the 20th and 21st centuries. The collection has no permanent gallery and has been referred to as a 'museum without walls'.

How do I request use of an image from the British Council Collection?
Photographs of the work in our Collection are available for use in catalogues or other material, usually supplied in digital form. Requests for such material and a copy of our schedule of fees should be addressed to arts@britishcouncil.org. We do not hold the copyright on works in our collection and permission must be obtained from the copyright holder. Copies of that permission must be submitted before any photographic material can be released.

The name of the copyright holder is given on the British Council Collection website.

Copyright for artists is handled by a number of organisations, the largest of which are: The Design and Copyright Society (DACS), the Bridgeman Art Library and the Tate.

Can my work be included in the British Council Collection?
Our acquisitions policy is geared towards our exhibition programme which is put together in collaboration with key partners, galleries and museums. The selection of works is made by a team of arts specialists through research around the UK by visiting museums, galleries, degree shows, artists' studios and other events. Final purchases are agreed by a panel comprising external curators, critics and artists. We do not buy speculatively.

How can I borrow a piece from the British Council Collection?
We are happy to make works available for exhibition whether in the UK or elsewhere whenever possible. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee availability as many works are included in our own exhibitions or may already be on loan elsewhere. Requests should be addressed to:

Head of Collections
Visual Arts Department
Arts Group
British Council
10 Spring Gardens
London, SW1A 2BN

We ask that requests be submitted at least six months before the opening date of the exhibition and should be accompanied by an exhibition proposal and completed UK Registrars’ Group Facilities Report. We expect borrowers to meet all the insurance and transport costs involved, and this could include the costs of international freight.

Am I able to visit the British Council Collection?
As the collection has no permanent gallery or display it is not always possible to view works. The majority of the Collection is on show overseas at any one time, in exhibitions or displays. If you are interested in seeing specific works please address requests to the Head of Collections at arts@britishcouncil.org.

Am I able to donate a work of art?
In line with all other National Art Collections, we do not accept donations other than from artists already included in the British Council Collection.

Can you help me research a particular artist?
You can have a look at the British Council Collection website to see if we own any works by them. You could also look through our projects, exhibitions, and catalogues, but the best way to research an artist is on the internet, via search engines. You can then choose from a range of results.

How do I get access to visit the Visual Arts Library?
Our Library is a library of last resort and is for reference only but some items can be photocopied. You can check our catalogue holdings here.

The Visual Arts Library is held at:
Arts Group
British Council
10 Spring Gardens
London SW1A 2BN

The Library is generally only open to visitors on Fridays, and appointments must be made in advance. To do this please contact arts@britishcouncil.org.

You can find out more about the Visual Arts Library on this page.

Can you issue an artist a visa to the UK or overseas?
No. Please see the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website for UK visa and country embassy information.

Where can I obtain information to help with organising international tours, specifically with regards to visas and travel safety?
Please see  the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website for visa and travel safety information. However if you have a specific tax, freight, or official arrangement enquiry about a particular country, we may be able to point you in the right direction. Please email us at arts@britishcouncil.org.

I want to get in touch with a UK artist, can you give me their address?
We cannot give out the addresses of our personal contacts due to privacy laws. If you want to get in touch with an artist, we suggest you first check on a search engine to see if they have their own website, or write to their publisher or agent asking them to forward a message. We do list contact and/or agent details for the authors profiled on our British Council Literature website, and on the British Council Film website we have contact details in the Directors Directory.

I’m a student and I want to do research on the British Council Arts Group. Can I send you a questionnaire/ interview?
An increasing number of students are undertaking arts or company research as a part of their courses and as a result there are now so many requests that we are no longer able to accommodate these enquiries.

Where can I find UK performing arts companies who are interested in touring in my country?
See our Performance in Profile directory of UK companies and artists who are currently creating interesting work available for international touring. You could also contact the local British Council office in your country who will tell you more about possibilities for partnership and collaboration.

What publications do Arts Group produce?
For information on all our British Council Arts publications please see our publications page.

Can you help me if I have a copyright question?
We are not able to respond to individual requests for advice on copyright or any other intellectual property matter. Copyright law and the rules around enforcement vary from country to country, so you should approach a local copyright lawyer for professional advice.

How can I work for the British Council Arts Group?
In the UK, job vacancies are advertised through the national, regional and specialist press as appropriate. We do not accept CVs or resumes and cannot hold details on file.

We currently recruit temporary staff in the UK from Pertemps Employment Agency. If you are interested in working for us on a temporary basis you should contact Pertemps directly in the city where you wish to work.

Please note that expressing an interest in working for the British Council does not necessarily guarantee that you will be assigned a temporary booking with us.

If you are interested in working for one of our offices overseas, please contact them directly for information on job vacancies. For contact details of all our offices around the world, click here.

For more information on British Council job vacancies and application procedures please click here.

Can I do work experience, internships, secondments with you?
We do not run a work experience or internship programme in the UK. If your organisation is interested in discussing a formal secondment arrangement with us, please contact arts@britishcouncil.org.

If you are interested in carrying out work placements in one of our offices overseas please contact the offices directly to find out if they have any opportunities available. You can find these contact details on this page.