Our arts work in Wider Europe

We build connections across Wider Europe by supporting creatives to grow the creative economy, drive artistic exchange and use the arts to tackle global challenges.

A building in Greenwich London is lit up with vibrant projections of mosaics lost in the war in Ukraine as part of a show called Bits Destroyed for the UK Ukraine Season.

British Council

About our arts work in Wider Europe

For over 80 years, the British Council has been building connections between the UK and Wider Europe, a diverse region of 14 countries comprising Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Georgia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

Our work in the region enables artistic exchange, supports the development of the creative economy, and explores how the arts and culture can help to address critical global challenges.

We do this by partnering with artists, creative professionals, organisations, and institutions in the UK and across the Wider Europe region. Together, we champion the arts as a powerful force for innovation and positive change.

WOW Istanbul

WOW Istanbul, part of the global WOW – Women of the World movement, has been hosted by British Council Turkey since 2020. The festival connects local and global perspectives on gender equality through talks, performances, and partnerships, fostering meaningful dialogue. The latest WOW Instanbul event took place in April 2025.

Learn more

UK/Ukraine Season of Culture highlights

The UK/Ukraine Season of Culture was a collaborative initiative between the British Council and the Ukrainian Institute, which took place from summer 2022 throughout 2023 and featured artist residencies, talks, film, music, literature, drama, and dance. Explore the highlights and impact of the season in the Future Reimagined report.

Read the report