FAQ's Arts - Frequently Asked Questions

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Answers to our most commonly asked questions. Can't find the question you're after? Email Canan Marasligil and submit your question directly.

		What is the difference between the British Council and the Arts Council?

The British Council is the UK's international cultural relations organisation. The UK also has a system of agencies and government organisations to serve UK based artists within the UK. Arts Council England, the Scottish Arts Council, the Arts Council of Wales and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland are national funding bodies that are responsible for developing, sustaining and promoting the arts through the distribution of public money from central government and revenue generated by the National Lottery.

		What does the British Council do?

We are an international cultural relations agency. Our purpose is to build mutually beneficial relationships between people in the UK and other countries, in this case the Netherlands, and to increase appreciation of the UK’s ideas and achievements. In each individual country we work with partners on long-term projects of specific mutual relevance where we can identify opportunities to share experience and ideas through programmes in the arts, civil society, education and science. We promote the UK in its entirety, reflecting and celebrating its cultural, ethnic and political diversity. If you’d like to be kept informed of our projects and activities, sign up for our newsletter Crossing Over.

		I have a project that I'd like to work on with the British Council, how should I get in touch with you?

We are always keen to receive project proposals from potential partners. We can, however, only become involved in activities that can clearly demonstrate long-term impact at a strategic level in line with our objectives. Our current priorities are with projects involving the internationalisation of young people, related to themes of identity and citizenship. We are doing this through a series of creative practical projects in science, theatre and sports. See the Connecting Futures section of this site for more details.

		I have a project involving UK artists in the Netherlands. Can the British Council provide funding or help promote a project?

The British Council is not a funding organisation. We do not have the resources or indeed the remit, to promote individuals or support ad hoc events, which are not part of our strategic planning and projects. Unfortunately we do not have the resources to promote other activities involving the UK in the Netherlands, unless we are directly involved as a partner. For information about Grants to Artists, have a look at question 6.

		Where can I find information on UK Arts Festivals?

	Have a look at the British Arts Festival Association site which provides a meeting point for arts festivals in the UK, providing information and a complete calendar, with links to festival websites. If you're interested in Edinburgh, visit the website of the Edinburgh family of festivals.

		I am interested in presenting a UK visual artist in the Netherlands. Can I apply to the British Council's Grants-to-Artists programme?

Yes. The Grants to Artists Scheme is our one grant scheme specifically for visual artists. It’s designed to help promote UK art by assisting professional artists who are resident in the UK to exhibit overseas in public or commercial spaces. The scheme is administered with guidance from members of a subcommittee, drawn from our Visual Arts Advisory Committee, in close consultation with British Council Directorates overseas. Either the artist or the hosting gallery, museum or art space may apply.

		I'm interested in continuing my training in the UK. Can you tell me where to look for research training courses and university programmes in the arts?

	Education UK provides general information about studying in the UK: from information on courses to potential financial aid to the application process.

		Where can I find out about current UK art exhibitions, performances and projects happening in the Netherlands?

	You can look up all the activities that the British Council Netherlands is involved with on our events calendar. Unfortunately we cannot provide a calendar that includes all the current UK art exhibitions, performances and projects happening in the Netherlands.

		I am an artist based in the Netherlands or member of a Dutch company interested in presenting my work in the UK. Can the British Council Netherlands support me?

We recommend that you contact the Netherlands Embassy in the UK and look at the Visiting Arts website. Visiting Arts facilitates the inward flow of foreign arts into England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Visiting Arts site provides specific information on funding opportunities for artists and companies interested in touring the UK, as well as publications and resource guides about UK fundraising. The site offers an online listing service of artists interested in presenting their work in the UK. Funding programmes require the visiting artist to have a UK producer.