The British Council has officially introduced its flagship Connections Through Culture (CTC) grants program in Pakistan for the first time. This initiative aims to provide seed funding for bilateral creative collaborations, cross-cultural exchanges, and long-term institutional partnerships between creative practitioners in the United Kingdom and 35 participating countries worldwide, including Pakistan.
Program Overview
The program consolidates two legacy British Council schemes: Biennials Connect (Visual Arts) grants and the Architecture, Design and Fashion Biennials and Festivals Grants. This merger creates a single, streamlined funding platform that supports a wide range of artistic expressions, including visual arts, music, literature, performance, architecture, design, and film.
James Hampson, Country Director of British Council Pakistan, stated: "Connections Through Culture is supporting artists and organisations from the UK and Pakistan to co-create new work and build great partnerships."
Eligibility and Application
Applications for the 2026 cycle are open to creative practitioners, cultural professionals, artists, creative hubs, festivals, biennials, and organisations. To be eligible, projects must demonstrate a meaningful collaboration involving at least one UK-based collaborator and one partner legally established in a participating nation.
Focus on Asia Pacific Creative Sector
To assist regional applicants, the British Council will host information sessions led by in-country Arts Managers:
- Information Session: Tuesday, 30 June 2026, 08:00 – 09:30 BST (BSL interpretation available). Countries included: Pakistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Mainland China, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand, UK, and Vietnam.
- Global Visual Arts, Architecture, Design and Fashion Session: Wednesday, 1 July 2026 (all participating territories).
Registrations for these sessions are available on the British Council website.
Funding and Eligibility
Projects must involve at least one UK-based partner and one partner from an eligible country. Funding amounts are up to £15,000 for Pakistan. Eligible activities include co-creation, residencies, research and development, collaborative exhibitions, and public programs.
Critical Dates
Applications for CTC close on Wednesday, 12 August 2026 at 23:59 BST. Applicants are strongly advised to consult the official 2026 application toolkit and comprehensive FAQs, available on the British Council website, prior to submission.
