Arts & Culture: Culture Responds

Culture Responds is one of the Global Programmes through which the British Council delivers its grant-funded activity. The primary focus of this Global Programme is ODA eligible activity and outcomes. Aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Culture Responds supports artists, creative practitioners and cultural organisations to respond to social and environmental issues, including the climate emergency, freedom of creative expression, disability arts and gender equality. It commissions research and engages with cultural professionals and policymakers on major platforms. The programme focuses on the transformative power of arts, cultural and heritage. It champions their potential to innovate, support sustainable development, and challenge mindsets for a more inclusive and sustainable future. We do this by: ◼ Developing training and exchange programmes to support artists’ development and networks; ◼ Providing grants to commission innovative new work and protect heritage at risk from the impact of conflict and climate change; ◼ Leading research and policy engagement to champion the role that the arts, culture and heritage can play in supporting sustainable and inclusive development. There are five main areas of focus for this Global Programme: 1. the climate emergency and biodiversity loss, 2. gender equality, 3. diverse narratives and freedom of creative expression, 4. disability arts, and 5. social cohesion and conflict. ◼ 1. The climate emergency and biodiversity loss: Programmes promote more environmentally sustainable practice across creative sectors, including training and R&D. Grants programmes commission innovative, interdisciplinary collaborations to increase public engagement in the climate emergency and biodiversity loss. ◼ 2. Gender equality: Programmes champion gender equality and empower women and girls to exercise their agency and fulfil their potential. ◼ 3. Diverse Narratives: Programmes supports freedom of creative expression, including LGBTQIA+ rights. Through mentorship programmes, digital campaigns and delegations, artists are supported to explore the complexities of intersecting identities and issues. ◼ 4. Disability Arts: Programmes support international disability arts collaborations, build networks and deepen disabled artists’ practice, including conferences and international delegations. ◼ 5. Social cohesion and conflict: Programmes support social cohesion and work with artists and heritage at risk from conflict.