UK Cultural Diplomacy Group

Convening member organisations to enhance the political, economic and social benefits of the UK's international cultural diplomacy activities.

The Edinburgh skyline at night, with searchlights coming out of the castle on a hilltop, which is illuminated in pink light. A busy street is lit up to the right of the image.
Edinburgh - Calton Hill Tattoo View. Photo by Kenny McCartney (c) Getty

The British Council provides the Secretariat for the UK Cultural Diplomacy Group.

The group uses the collective expertise, intelligence, assets and activities of its members to enhance the political, economic and social benefits of international cultural diplomacy activities of the whole of the UK. It contributes to the growth and standing of the UK’s culture sectors through improving opportunities for international engagement and cultural export through cultural diplomacy.

The Cultural Diplomacy Group focuses on planning and communication, creating and sharing learning, and pursuing shared opportunities. 

The group aims to:

  • improve the framework for the culture sectors to work effectively with cultural diplomacy agendas across the UK while exercising creative independence, through better mutual understanding of opportunities, needs and critical success factors
  • share intelligence across the UK culture sectors to help organisations understand, engage with and benefit from a growing range of international opportunities
  • help connect UK culture sectors with international opportunities for revenue generation and brand profiling through the work of the members
  • increase understanding among UK policy makers of the value the culture sectors can add to international political, economic and social policy objectives.

Meet the members

Members include key UK cultural organisations involved in cultural diplomacy work overseas, UK and Devolved Governments and national Arts Councils.