Deadline for applications: June 1, 2025, at 23:59 BST
Organizer: British Council
Who It’s For: Biennale and festival organisers, and (in some cases) design practitioners working across architecture, design, fashion, and craft
Apply here
Launched in 2016, this British Council initiative supports international cultural exchange by helping designers present completed work at biennales and festivals worldwide. Grants of up to £10,000 are available to support exhibitions, installations, travel, production, and engagement activities. The programme encourages projects that promote UK and international collaboration, particularly those involving emerging designers or taking place in Official Development Assistance (ODA) recipient countries.
Grants can fund the presentation of completed design work, including exhibitions and installations, travel, and engagement efforts across architecture, fashion, design, and craft. Priority is given to projects that foster partnerships between UK-based and international designers, feature emerging voices, and promote skills development and international presence. All activities must take place between September 2025 and August 2026.
Grants of up to £10,000 are available to support:
- UK-based biennales and festivals showcasing work by international designers (Non-UK-based, excluding designers based in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka).
- International (non-UK-based, excluding Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) biennales and festivals showcasing work by UK designers.
The grants facilitate exhibitions, displays, installations, or similar presentations of completed design work across architecture, design, fashion, and craft, as well as projects at the intersection of these disciplines.
- Biennale or festival representatives must submit the applications. Grants will be awarded to festival organisations, not individual designers.
- Design practitioners interested in applying should coordinate with the relevant festival. In exceptional cases, practitioners may apply directly if they provide a confirmation letter from the festival stating that the festival can receive the funds.
Apply online after reviewing all application guidelines and supporting documents in British Council's official website.
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Main image credit: Thierry Bal @createlondon
