Building lasting relationships between cultural organisations in the UK and China

The initiative offers support, information, advice, networking opportunities and development grants to cultural organisations in China and the UK, aiming to build long lasting relationships and to develop exciting cultural collaborations between organisations in the two countries.

China and the UK both have a rich cultural heritage. Cultural organisations in both countries can benefit from the input, impetus and inspiration gained from exchanging ideas and sharing their cultural history with partners from the opposite country.

China —UK Connections through Culture is a joint initiative between the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Council with support from the Scottish Government and Welsh Assembly Government.

What does Connections offer?

Information - via the Connections website, which brings together a wide variety of useful information including:

   - China Arts Overview;

   - China and UK government policy and structure;

   - available sources of funding;

   - cultural news including latest trends and rising stars;

   - details of festivals and other opportunities to see work;

   - lists of translators and interpreters and other sources of practical help and solutions to bureaucratic hurdles.

The official Connections Through Cultures website also contains a searchable database of organisational profiles and interests. All cultural organisations in the UK and China can register on the database to enable potential partner organisations to make contact.

Support - on the ground knowledge, tailored advice, trouble-shooting and support from specialist staff in-country who can, where appropriate, act as brokers for developing projects and finding partners. Organisations should register on the Connections website to access support.

Networking events – regular meetings organised around significant cultural events in both countries, bringing together groups of practitioners and policy makers to discuss topics of common interest, share their knowledge and experience and identify potential partners.  A full list of events can be found here. Further details on the networking events, including how to register if you want to attend, can be found on the website.

Development grants - a limited number of small grants to enable members of cultural organisations to visit their counterparts in China or the UK for up to 10 days to develop projects, exchange skills or see each other’s work. Click here for further information on how to apply.