Connections Through Culture Grants 2025

A grant programme designed to nurture fresh cultural partnerships between the UK and selected countries.

Clubbers enjoying music pose with the DJ as part of Dreamy place, a project supported by CTC grants 2025
Dreamy place, a project supported by CTC 2025 a collaboration between videoclub and martin goya business. Image shows MGB DJs at Fabrica.

About the programme

The British Council’s Connections Through Culture (CTC) Grants support artistic collaboration between the UK and select countries in Asia and Europe. The grants support collaborative projects between artists, creative practitioners and arts organisations, fostering cross-cultural exchange and lasting relationships.  

In 2024, the programme awarded over £741,000 across 11 countries in the Asia Pacific region, supporting 84 collaborations. The projects explored a wide range of themes, including diversity and inclusion and climate action, and supported collaborations such as Deaf-led music events, international theatre productions, digital art residencies, and creative workshops. Find out more about the 2024 grantees here.

For 2025 we’re excited to expand the programme to include new countries, providing more opportunities for a broader range of international partners. 

Apply for a grant

Applications for the latest round of grants are now open. We expect to award approximately 90 grants of up to £5,000 or £10,000 to support new collaborative projects.  

Applicants should read the information for applicants in full below before submitting an application.
Deadline: 23 June 2025, 15:00 BST

Information for applicants

Key dates

Applications open: 28 April 2025

Application deadline: 23 June 2025 (15:00 BST)

Information sessions:

1. Tuesday 6 May 8am (BST)
2. Wednesday 7 May (9am BST) 
3. Wednesday 14 May (10am BST)
4. Thursday 15 May (9am BST)
Register for a session here

Notification of decision sent to applicants: mid-August 2025 

Projects start: From October 2025 

What can the grants be used for?

The grants support the development of new creative projects leading to collaborative activities that promote the exchange of skills, knowledge, and practice. Various approaches can be taken such as art residencies, exhibitions, performances, showcases, publications, webinars, and conferences, among others. Projects can be digital, face to face or a hybrid of both.

Who Can Apply?

Each application must comprise of at least one UK partner and one international partner from the countries listed below. 

Eligible countries 
Australia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Mainland China, Indonesia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam. 

Organisations and individuals are eligible to apply.

For the UK, eligible individuals are those who are living and working in the UK and for participating countries, individuals need to be residents of that country. 

We would expect individuals to have the necessary registration/s needed to comply with legal and/or tax provisions in the country in which they are based e.g. this could be a sole trader or an individual operating as a company with the associated registrations. 

Eligibility criteria

  • Whilst we accept applications covering all artforms and outcomes, applications that respond to the themes of diversity and inclusion and climate change may be prioritised during final decision-making. 
  • We welcome applications from both new and returning partners, and we're particularly keen to hear from those we have not previously worked with. 
  • Collaboration is central to the programme, and partners should work together to co-create, co-deliver, or co-explore innovative artistic and cultural projects. 

Download the application toolkit below for the full eligibility criteria. 

Eligible art forms

  • Architecture 
  • Design & fashion 
  • Creative technology 
  • Film 
  • Literature 
  • Music 
  • Theatre and dance 
  • Visual arts. 

We also welcome proposals for:  

  • Cross-art form projects  
  • Projects with themes relevant to the creative economy (policy, research and advocacy, as well as capacity building for creative professionals and policymakers) 
  • Cross-disciplinary art projects (e.g., art + science, art + technology) 

Grant Amounts

Up to £5,000
Projects between the UK and Australia and New Zealand.

Up to 10,000
Projects between the UK and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Mainland China, Georgia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online. You will need to create a free account to complete your application. 

An application must be submitted by one lead applicant. The form has collaboration enabled so you will be able to invite your project partner to collaborate on the form. 

Key Application Steps: 

  • For detailed application guidance download our application toolkit and FAQs below.
  • Attend an Information Session (optional).
  • Complete the online application before the deadline: 23 June 2025 (15.00 BST). 

If you have any access needs in order to complete the application, please contact us.

Information sessions

Learn more about the programme and how to apply in one of our webinars. 

Register here 

Schedules:  

  • Tuesday, 6 May, 8:00 AM (BST)
  • Wednesday, 7 May, 9:00 (BST)
  • Wednesday, 14 May, 10:00 AM (BST)
  • Thursday, 15 May, 9:00 AM (BST) 

Contact us

A seated person in traditional dress reads to an audience

Meet the 2024 grantees

For the last round of Connections Through Culture we awarded over £741,000 across 11 countries in the Asia Pacific region, supporting 84 collaborations.

Dates:

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