Connections Through Culture Grants 2025, image
Photo from ‘Discover Ukraine: Bits Destroyed at the Greenwich+Docklands International Festival’ event during the UK/Ukraine Season 2022  © David Levene

The British Council’s Connections Through Culture (CTC) Grants support artistic collaboration between the UK and select countries in the Asia-Pacific 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, such as Ukraine, 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. The grant amount for Ukraine is up to £10,000.

Please read all the information for applicants and download the application toolkit below before applying.

Apply now

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)
  • Notification of decision sent to applicants: mid-August 2025
  • Project 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. Project events in Ukraine can take place live, except in temporarily occupied territories and military action zones. Project events held in Ukraine must comply with safety standards.

Applicants should provide evidence of appropriate risk management of activities and the project as a whole. Security measures and venue selection with shelter access must be part of public programme planning. 

FCDO travel advice must be followed for considerations of in-person involvement of individuals travelling from outside of Ukraine in grant activities. Only travel to regions designated as ‘orange’ are permissible for those travelling from outside Ukraine. Travel to areas designated as ‘red’ would not be allowed under the terms of this grant. Only programme essential and justified travel cases will be considered. As the safety situation in Ukraine can change, applicants should be ready to adapt project activities and travel arrangements, including cancellation, postponement or changing planned formats. The British Council team will assess if appropriate safeguarding and security measures were put in place. 

Who can apply?

Each application must comprise of at least one UK partner and one international partner from the countries listed below. An organisation or an individual can be a partner.

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.

Applying as an individual

We accept applications from legally registered individuals as project partners that are based in the UK and all participating countries.

Eligibility criteria

  • Whilst we accept applications covering all artforms and outcomes, applications that respond to the CTC 2025 priority 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

Grant amount For projects between the UK and:
Up to £5,000 Australia, New Zealand
Up to £10,000 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Mainland China, Georgia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam

When planning your budget, please take into account taxes (for example, for individual entrepreneurs). We also recommend that you read the step-by-step guide ‘How to make a foreign currency payment abroad ’* if the Ukrainian party is the main partner. 

*If necessary, please contact UA-ArtUkraine@britishcouncil.org to obtain an extended version of the guide. 

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.

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Application Toolkit and FAQs

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