Our Chair Lord Kinnock delivered a speech about our work in Russia at this year’s Labour Party Conference Fringe. He stressed the importance of mutual understanding and trust, and highlighted our activities in Russia, including the forthcoming Turner exhibition.
A group of international Young Climate Change Ambassadors set sail on an expedition of discovery to Canada’s Arctic. The voyage brings together students, artists and scientists who will record their journey online as they bear witness to the changing landscape.
Young people from Africa and the UK wowed audiences in Botswana with their vocal skills at the closing festival and regional final of our three-year programme, Power in the Voice.
Our 2007/08 Annual Report is now available online. This report outlines how we performed in a year in which we have increased our financial turnover; created and produced more ambitious projects, and reached more people across the world.
Three writers from Kolkata appeared at this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival as part of the British Council’s showcase for contemporary British literature.
Colombian director, Gabriel Zapata, scooped first prize at our new International Young Performing Arts Entrepreneur Award at an industry-wide ceremony in Edinburgh on 6 August.
Our new IT-based Learning Centre in Nepal was inaugurated by Lord Malloch-Brown, FCO Minister for Africa, Asia and the United Nations, on 18 July. The centre gives Nepali students and learners an opportunity to access a wealth of online resources.
On 25 July we published our response to the findings of our extensive consultation with the UK’s arts and cultural sector. The resulting Arts Action Plan puts arts and creativity at the heart of our cultural relations mission.
From street child to film-maker, Cameroonian Chevening scholar Zigoto Tchaya Tchameni teamed up with fellow MA students to journey back to his homeland on a film-making mission, teaching local people the art of film.
The Young Advocate Programme was launched in Beijing on 23 June, bringing together able and disabled young people. They will take part in an international leadership and learning initiative that celebrates the values of the Paralympics in the build up to the games.
Steve McQueen has been selected to represent Britain at the 53rd Venice Biennale, the British Council announced on 24 June. McQueen will present a solo exhibition in the British Pavilion to be shown from June to November 2009.
The third volume of the British Council’s collection of essays, Britain and Ireland: Lives Entwined, was launched in May. Contributions by politicians and peacemakers, including Nobel peace laureate John Hume, among many, explore the intricate and changing relations between Britain and Ireland.
A report by the UK's National Audit Office is welcomed by the British Council, following a review of our work around the world. Published on 11 June, the report concludes that our performance is strong and valued by customers and stakeholders.
Young climate change activists delivered an urgent message at the G8 Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Kobe on Saturday 24 May as part of the International Climate Champions initiative.
British Council led Peacekeeping English Project (PEP) launched this month in Ethiopia paves the way for better communication between peacekeepers in Africa. PEP will help increase Ethiopia’s capacity to participate in multinational peacekeeping operations by building the English language skills of recruits.
The British Council’s Football Unites project organised a friendly football match between fans of Manchester United and Spartak Moscow in the build up to the Champions League final on 21 May. The game brought fans together before the big match, which saw Manchester United’s win over Chelsea.
A new agreement between the British Council and the Arts Council of Wales marks the renewal of the unique partnership organisation Wales Arts International. Signed on 17 April, the agreement will enable the arts in Wales to continue to grow on a global stage.
Teachers of English have a new global home on the web with the launch of TeachingEnglish. The website, launched at IATEFL on 8 April, brings together everything busy teachers need for the classroom and the staffroom.
The environment ministers of the G8 will meet in Kobe, Japan. One of their items of business will be a challenge presented to them by a coalition of concerned young individuals from 39 countries who met in London in March to agree an agenda for tackling the challenge presented by climate change.
An innovative programme run by the British Council and Barclays Premier League is giving young people the chance to communicate in two world languages – English and football.
Young people have an essential role to play in helping countries achieve the UN’s Millennium Development Goals, as a programme we run jointly with the World Bank Institute shows.
If you are a first generation migrant in Europe, you are 50 per cent more likely to have been made fun of in the last three months, according to research we've published into the lives of schoolchildren.
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