British Council Launches Festival Connect Fund 2025: A Gateway to Cultural Collaboration
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The British Council has officially announced the second edition of the Festival Connect Fund, an exciting initiative designed to foster collaborative festival projects between Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and the United Kingdom (UK). With up to £100,000 in available funding, this opportunity is tailored for festivals that seek to promote cross-cultural partnerships, artistic innovation, and meaningful community engagement.
The call for applications is open to festival organizers based in both SSA and the UK who are interested in co-creating projects that bring people together through the power of the arts. The application deadline is 27 June 2025, and an information session is scheduled for 26 May 2025 to guide potential applicants.
What the Fund Supports
The Festival Connect Fund aims to:
Strengthen cross-border partnerships between UK and African festival organisers
Encourage artistic exchange and innovation in festival-making
Promote mobility of artists, ideas, and culture
Create community-centered impact through inclusive and accessible cultural programming
Eligible festivals can use the fund to develop new projects or strengthen existing collaborations that reflect diversity, mutual learning, and creative experimentation.
“Culture has the power to connect people beyond borders — this fund turns that power into action, collaboration, and lasting change.”
Benefits to Communities and Creatives
This fund does more than support festivals — it invests in cultural identity, creative economies, and community cohesion. Here’s how it benefits individuals and society:
Empowers local artists and creatives to connect with international audiences
Boosts economic activity through tourism, jobs, and cultural exports
Preserves and shares cultural heritage, encouraging appreciation of African and UK traditions
Builds long-term relationships between organisations, leading to future collaborations
Fosters youth engagement, innovation, and expression in underserved communities
For NGOs, cultural groups, and festival organisers, this is a golden opportunity to expand reach, deepen impact, and create a legacy of cultural exchange.
The Festival Connect Fund 2025 is more than a grant — it’s a chance to bridge worlds through creativity. If your organization believes in the transformative power of the arts, now is the time to act.
Apply at: https://britishcouncilarts.grantplatform.com
Deadline: 27 June 2025
Info Session: 26 May 2025
