Developing dynamic, diverse and future-facing creative economies 

The British Council is at the forefront of championing the international creative economy. Our Arts programme focuses on policy, research, advocacy, and capacity building for creative professionals and policymakers. We support collaboration for long-term impact, mutual benefit, and greater international understanding.

By working with policymakers, we support their work at a strategic level, ensuring the conditions are in place for creative individuals and organisations to grow, reach their potential and effect relevant, sustainable change.

Our programme is driven by specialist colleagues in 13 countries around Sub-Saharan Africa who draw on their own knowledge and networks to shape relevant activities and impactful partnerships.

New Narratives

Find out more about our approach to our Arts programming through our New Narratives research.

We contribute to more inclusive economic and social development and prosperity. In 2023/24, our programmes are working in over 19 Sub-Saharan African countries, creating stronger links with the UK in order to:

  1. Discover and share information and insight into creative sectors
  2. Develop networks and create new international opportunities for creative professionals
  3. Develop the capacity for creative professionals and policymakers.

to support sustainable creative sectors in their countries. 

We do this through virtual and face-to-face training, creating forums where policymakers and practitioners can come together to develop ways to support the sector to flourish and by brokering connections where best practices can be shared across borders.

We work across these cultural and creative industries across the globe;

Visual Arts, Design, Fashion, Film, Music, Dance, Literature, Heritage, Theatre, Creative Technology and Architecture. For the 2023 - 2025 period, our Arts Programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa will primarily focus on Fashion, Film, Music, Visual Arts and Creative Technology.