Art - Architecture - Design - British Council

Image credit: Silk Pearce

Steve Mcqueen to represent Britain at Venice Biennale

The British Council is delighted to announce that Steve McQueen has been selected to represent Britain at the 53rd Venice Biennale. McQueen will present a solo exhibition in the British Pavilion to be shown from June to November, 2009. To find out more please click here.

Lure of the East - British Orientalist Painting

Highlighting the work of British painters who engaged with the cultures of the Near and Middle East during the late 19th and early 20th century, Lure of the East is currently touring Turkey and United Arab Emirates. Click here to find out more about the exhibition.

Art, Architecture and Design are amongst the most powerful and influential areas within the arts in Britain today. Covering a vast range of disciplines, from the fine arts through to the very latest in digital technologies, the UK’s artists, architects and designers are pushing the boundaries of their practice to the limit and looking to the future with their innovation and high standards of production.
We look to all areas of UK art, architecture and design to showcase the most exciting and best work outside Britain. With our network of partners overseas we plan, organise and curate high impact projects for long-term cultural benefits that reach beyond the immediate experience.

Shereen Diab from Lebanon, winner of the International Young Visual Arts Entrepreneur award.

Folk Archive Banner, By Ed Hall, 2005. © The Artists.

IYVAE 2008 award goes to Lebanon

Shereen Diab, from Lebanon, has been announced as the winner of the inaugural International Young Visual Arts Entrepreneur award.

Folk Archive

Jeremy Deller and Alan Kane's work brings together drawing, painting, film, performance, costume, and some astonishing objects, to create a visual account of contemporary popular British culture.

Venice Biennale of Architecture

Architecture critic Ellis Woodman examines the conditions that have bred the UK’s housing crisis at the 11th Venice Architecture Biennale.

What we do in Art, Architecture and Design

The British Council is a cultural relations organisation, not a funding body. Have a look at how we work within visual arts, design and architecture; our aims and objectives; how to contact us; and our frequently asked questions.

Art

We work across all disciplines in visual arts, including painting, sculpture, photography and video and drawings, prints and multiples so have a look at our current and past projects.

Architecture

Built heritage and environment are two key areas within British architecture so read a little about them and how we showcase the best talents overseas.

Design

Covering product design, graphic design, fashion, craft and applied arts and furniture and interior projects, we programme many projects across disciplines in design. Also visit our Design in Britain website for interviews and biographies of Britain's famous and up-and-coming designers from the past and present day.

Publications and resources

Details of our catalogues, online resources and other useful information.