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UK Creative Leaders: Leanne Wright and Robbie Walters, artists/designers - Image © Tim Hall
Mexico 1948
Americas
Read about our work in the Americas, from our earliest days working in Latin America in the 1930s, to the Caribbean and North America, and find out when we opened in each country in the region.
When did we open in…?
Find out when we opened in each country of the region, from Argentina to Jamaica, and from Mexico to Venezuela
British Council Map 1951
Early work in Latin America

Latin America was one of the first regions where we worked, from 1935 onwards.  There were already a large number of Anglophile societies and English schools in Latin America, which we supported.  We set up our first offices in the region in 1940, in Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Venezuela.
British Institute Library in Mexico, 1948. Photograph Juan Guzman, Mexico
The Caribbean
We arrived in the Caribbean in 1943, when at the request of the British Colonial Office we appointed our first Representative to the West Indies, based in Jamaica.  We now have programmes in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
Caribbean dancers - Photographer Tim Hall
The United States
The United States has been an important partner since the 1940s, when we worked together to develop new English teaching methods and materials and to set up scholarship programmes between our two countries.  We opened our office in Washington DC in 1973.
English teaching - photographer Debra Hurford-Brown
Cuba
Our newest office in the Americas is in Cuba, where we held our first exhibition in 1996, started a programme of scientific cooperation in 1999, and opened our office in 2000.
Cuba started a programme of scientific cooperation 1999 - Photographer Mark Hakansson
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