Covid-19 News, advice and support from international culture and heritage organisations

A painted mural on a red brick wall: an young woman sits on a mountainous bright blue landscape with a bird perched on her knee. The image holds a sense of contemplation. — Creating Heroines mural by Bandana Tulachan. Creating Heroines is a project bringing together female artists, graphic novelists and illustrators. It explores the themes of overlooked heroines from the past and imagines heroines for the future. ©
British Council

Here is a list of advice and support of the heritage and culture sectors internationally in response to Covid-19. For more information, advice and support from the Arts sector, visit the British Council Arts Covid-19 support page.

If you would like to talk with someone in the British Council Culture and Development team, including to suggest additions to the list, contact us via cultureanddevelopment@britishcouncil.org #CultureConnectsUs.

Advice and support

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) global social media campaign #shareculture #shareourheritage promoting access to culture, education and heritage.
UNESCO resources: map of cultural initiatives around the globe; online exhibition of heritage properties; webinar on Inclusion in the time of COVID-19: addressing racism, discrimination and exclusion.
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) webinars about the impact of COVID-19 on museums and the cultural sector, and the role of culture in Italy's recovery (15 May)
International Council of Museums (ICOM) 8 steps to support community resilience plus guidance on how to reach your public remotely, conservation of museum collections and 6 steps to advocate for museums.
Resources from On The Move cultural mobility information network, with a focus on Europe, Asia and North America.
KEA European Affairs’ editable Covid-19 cultural policy map tracking cultural policy across Europe.
Doen Foundation, Hivos and the Prince Claus Fund joint statement on the transformative power of culture and the crucial role of culture in a time of crisis.
Creatives Unite Covid-19 resource platform for artists and creatives set up by the European Creative Hubs Network and the Goethe-Institut.
The european creative hubs network is running a Family Online Brunch every Friday for members.

Funding and opportunities

AHRC Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) Urgency Grants pilot: an accelerated funding outlet for urgent arts and humanities research projects. Funding is available up to £150,000 for ODA projects where there is a time-limited opportunity to conduct research.
Transforming Narratives open call for digital collaborative grants to support creative and cultural practitioners in Birmingham, Pakistan and Bangladesh to connect and collaborate using digital technology. Two or more collaborative partners can apply together for grants of up to £4,000. The total value of the fund is £50,000.
Gerda Henkel Corona Emergency Assistance Fund for scholarship holders to help finish their studies.
ALIPH relief fund for local operators in the heritage sector in conflict or post-conflict areas affected by the pandemic: financial support for the most vulnerable organisations, and financial support for staff to acess training.

Advocacy

Open letter to the EU demanding support for cultural creators in COVID-19 crisis, signed by over 8000 individuals and organisations.
United Cities and Local Government (UCLG) Decalogue for the post Covid-19 era, recommending culture as the fourth pillar of sustainable development.
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Statement on Culture and the COVID-19 Pandemic, emphasising the need to guarantee culture is at the heart of the UN Decade of Action for the SDGs.
European Union National Institutes of Culture (EUNIC Global) mapping of EU support to the Cultural and Creative sectors in times of crisis
UNESCO global ResiliArt campaign highlighting the need for a global effort to support artists and ensure access to culture for all.
The #Culture2030Goal campaign statement re-emphasising the need for culture to be included in the Sustainable Development Goals and the global response to Covid-19.

Our resources

Read articles and reports that explore the practice and support of culture, participation and heritage that is sustainable and mutual, for social and economic benefit.

Culture and International Development: Towards an Interdisciplinary Methodology by J.P. Singh
The Tricky Balancing Act by The Change Collective
The Only Way is Ethics by Shelagh Wright and Peter Jenkinson
Sharing Power: from participation to collaboration by Chrissie Tiller
Cultural Heritage for Inclusive Growth report by Rosanna Lewis