Grants available for UK and international Biennales and Festivals

Eligibility criteria

Biennales and festivals outside the UK wishing to showcase work by UK-based designers, or UK biennales and festivals wishing to showcase work by international designers are eligible to apply.

Grants are not designed for research and development, but to facilitate implementation of activities, such as collaborations and exchanges, or exhibitions and installations.

Priority will be given to:

• activities involving designers in early stages of their career, i.e. within 10 years of practice;
• and projects that foster collaboration between UK-based and international designers;
• Due to the nature of the funding majority of the grants offered will be for activities either taking place in Official Development Assistance (ODA) recipient countries (for biennales and festivals outside the UK) or with designers from those countries (for UK biennales and festivals).

Terms of the grant

Grants will be offered by the British Council’s Architecture Design Fashion team to the biennale/festival organiser to cover costs in relation to the participation of architects or designers. The value of each grant should be between £3,000 and £5,000. An estimated total of 8 grants will be offered in Financial Year 2021-22.

The British Council’s support must be acknowledged alongside the UK presentation and on all promotional materials, including social media. Upon completion of the activity, applicants will be required to supply attendance figures and a project report. A grant agreement will be issued with detailed terms and conditions.