Arts and culture | British Council

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.

Photograph of hole where the Bamiyan Buddha used to be

Heritage – shaping future societies

As British Council launches its Cultural Protection Fund to protect cultural heritage at threat from destruction, Stephen Stenning explains why it matters so much to preserve heritage.

All the world's

Research report: how Shakespeare is viewed around the globe and the role his work can play to support the UK’s soft power.

The power of fashion

London Fashion Week underlines the UK's strength in fashion. We look at what clothing does for the UK's influence and prosperity and the enduring links between fashion and soft power.

Shakespeare lives

Shakespeare is taught in half the world's classrooms. At the launch of a major programme of celebrations, we reveal how a man dead for 400 years is still the UK's greatest ambassador abroad.