Arts and culture | British Council

An auditorium full of people joyfully throwing their colourful paper plans from the audience to the stage.

Connecting Creative Communities: Creative hubs in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia & the Philippines

Connecting Creative Communities highlights the challenges creative hubs face, the impact they make and the ways they operate in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Arts, Culture and Soft Power

September 2017: How can the Arts contribute to shaping a nation’s soft power?

Photograph of Fiona Hyslop at the Edinburgh culture summit

Global cultural challenges and custodians of place: Findings from the Edinburgh international culture summit

The report from the Edinburgh International Culture Summit explores the vital issues facing today’s cultural sector and policymakers. We examine the arguments.

Culture: Building resilient communities

Research report: the Edinburgh International Culture Summit report.

Photograph of stone slab outside Afghan National Museum

'A nation stays alive when its culture stays alive'

Paul Smith, the British Council’s Country Director in Afghanistan when its offices were attacked by the Taliban, gives a personal view of why cultural protection is so vital for humanity.

In harm’s way

A brief introduction to current thinking within the field of cultural protection.

Cities, prosperity and influence

March 2017: How can cities shape their own destinies and help address urban, national and international challenges?

'This report clearly shows that the creative and cultural industries possess many assets, including creativity and respect for tradition.'

Creative Cities in Pakistan

November 2016: We look at the creative industries in Hyderabad, Peshawar, Multan, Gilgit and Quetta in Pakistan.

Interview with Tom Fletcher

Tom Fletcher, better known as the ‘Naked Diplomat’, talks to Insight about ‘Citizen Diplomacy’, Soft Power, and how digital technology can help to improve the world.

A photo fo the Scottish parliament building

Asking the questions Google can’t answer

Alistair MacDonald reports on the highlights of the 3rd biennial International Culture Summit – including the UK Government’s promise to ratify the Hague Convention on cultural protection.