Our Arts work in Europe | British Council

The British Council has been working in Europe since 1937. Our arts programme across Europe aims to strengthen relationships following the UK’s exit from the EU and enable vital long-term partnerships between arts organisations and professionals from all four parts of the UK and the EU.

Our EU Arts strategy aims to place the UK at the heart of Europe’s cultural conversation. Arts will continue to connect the UK to the rest of Europe and the British Council will support the UK arts sectors to work throughout Europe. Read our EU Arts Strategy.

See below for an introduction to our Arts work in Europe and useful sites for UK arts professionals, organisations and initiatives looking to connect with or work in an EU country.

Premiere of ‘Nobody Whistles Anymore’ in Ljubljana, May 2023. Visual description: On the darkened stage a crowd of people in colourful costumes is dancing. At the front of the stage: a person in pink dress with a pink crown, a male in drag and a women with metal helmet, military jacket and fishnet stockings. Flower petals on the floor and some smoke in the background.

Performing Gender: Dancing In Your Shoes

‘Dancing In Your Shoes’ brings together dance festivals, LGBTIQ+ associations, universities and global organisations to engage with local communities and foreground marginalised voices.

Seven mixed disabled and non-disabled dancers link hands as they prepare to take a bow on an almost empty stage following a performance of ‘Mixed Doubles’ by Grootens, Kalampaliki, Tortelli and Espinosa, created as part of ‘Europe Beyond Access’

Arts and Disability

Explore our visual arts and disability resources: a guide to the UK and a panel discussion. The Europe Beyond Access programme supports disabled artists in the theatre and dance sectors.

Thessaloniki Panel Discussion on ‘Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility in Cultural Leadership’ at the CoMuseum International Conference 2023

Museums Revisited

Museums Revisited is an intensive capacity building programme that explores the role of museums in society today.

A performance of ‘MASS’ at the Outburst Queer Arts Festival

Bespoke Brokers

Through Bespoke Brokers, we aim to bring together cultural organisations, programmers and festivals in the UK and Europe to foster collaboration.

Poster for the ‘We Are Equals’ programme

New Voices

New Voices supports UK-based artists, including those from diverse and less well represented backgrounds, bringing them together with artists from across Europe who face similar challenges.

Circular Cultures

Circular Cultures aims to foster dialogue around circular design, covering topics such as climate change, material waste and making cultures.

Fluxus Art Projects

Fluxus Art Projects is a bilateral Franco-British programme supporting exhibitions and curatorial visits by contemporary artists and curators from both countries.

Lovemusic, a new music collective based in Strasbourg, performed a new work by Philip Venables with the artist David Hoyle at the Festival d’Automne, supported by Diaphonique

Diaphonique

The Diaphonique fund supports classical and contemporary music collaborations between France and the UK, which include commissions, concerts, residencies and educational projects.

A young man carrying a small briefcase arriving in the UK

Travelling to and working in the EU

Advice and resources for UK nationals, organisations and artistic businesses working with or in the EU, and EU nationals, organisations and businesses working with or in the UK.

A young woman wearing a white apron covered in paint splatters looking at a selection of art works laid out on a large table in an artist’s studio

Resources

On this page you will find a selection of useful sites for UK arts professionals, organisations and initiatives looking to connect with or work in an EU country.