British Council aims to build long-term relationships between the UK and Pakistan by increasing mutual collaboration through its creative arts programme based on the wealth of heritage and skills in Pakistan. The programme showcases Pakistan and UK’s creative industries and commercial arts by exploring the artistic mediums of film, music, literature, visual arts and design.
Literature
The British Council facilitates cultural understanding and exchange through writing and reading projects relevant to young literary enthusiasts in Pakistan and the UK. We aim to coordinate with literary festivals, publishers, writers, higher education institutes and readers in Pakistan and the UK to deliver a wide range of literature activities.
Some of our current Literature projects are,
Karachi Literature Festival
The Karachi Literature Festival is a reflection of Pakistan’s historical roots as expressed in a multiplicity of languages and in various forms of writing. The Festival brings together international & Pakistani authors and performing artists to create an intellectual space in which the diversity and pluralism in Pakistan’s society and that expressed by authors from traditions beyond Pakistan’s borders can be freely accessible to people in an open and participatory manner. Read more.
Connections Through Culture (CTC)
In our Connections Through Culture project we aspire to develop curatorial skills and facilitate knowledge exchange between art galleries in the UK and South Asia. A specific objective of the scheme is to encourage interaction and dialogue between curators from Pakistan and Bangladesh and their British counterparts. This programme will strengthen professional networks, develop skills, and create better understanding between the people of Pakistan, Bangladesh and the UK.
Read about British Curators recent visit to Pakistan!
Folk Nations
Folk Nations is a British Council project that links folk musicians in the UK and South Asia to promote creative collaborations. These collaborations not only connect artists but also build partnerships.
Currently British Council is facilitating collaboration between Pakistani singer and composer, Arieb Azhar with UK artist Martin Simpson at the Sage Gateshead. They had their first Residency in Newcastle, England in March 2012 followed by Arieb’s travel to the UK his second Residency in October 2012 where he will work closely with Martin on a fusion/Contemporary Folk Music, which will be presented at Alchemy Festival in April 2013.
Click here to read Arieb Azhar’s experience about Folk Nation project:
The British Council has previously supported collaboration between Susheela Raman and the Mian Mir Qawwals of Lahore. Learn more about the collaboration and the artist’s experience at http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/apr/10/lahore-qawwali-singers
Past Projects
Want to know more about the British Council’s arts work worldwide, visit Visual Arts
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