The British Council has launched the 2026 round of its flagship Connections Through Culture (CTC) grants programme, offering funding to support artistic collaborations, cultural exchanges and institutional partnerships between the United Kingdom and Bangladesh.
The initiative, announced on June 17, is part of a wider programme spanning 35 participating countries and is designed to seed-fund bilateral creative projects involving UK-based organisations and partners in eligible countries, including Bangladesh, said in a press release.
“At the heart of the British Council’s mission is a profound belief in the transformative power of cultural exchange,” said Stephen Forbes, Country Director Bangladesh at the British Council. “The Connections Through Culture grants programme builds long-term meaningful partnerships between our two countries by enabling our artists and creative practitioners to engage directly in co-creation and collaboration.”
The programme follows the 2025 cycle, during which 127 grants were awarded across 19 countries, including seven projects involving Bangladesh.
Applications for the 2026 cycle are open to creative practitioners, artists, cultural professionals, creative hubs, festivals, biennials and arts organisations. Eligible projects must include at least one UK-based collaborator and one partner legally established in a participating country.
The British Council said applicants with projects connecting Bangladesh and the UK may apply for grants of up to Tk24.45 lakh each. Eligible activities include co-created projects, artist residencies, research and development initiatives, workshops, collaborative exhibitions, performances, public programmes and other forms of international cultural exchange.
To support prospective applicants, the British Council will organise four information webinars explaining the application process and eligibility criteria. Registration is required for participation.
Two general information sessions will be held on 30 June from 1pm to 2:30pm and from 8pm to 9:30pm Bangladesh time, with British Sign Language interpretation available for the evening session.
A further webinar focused on festivals and biennials of visual arts, architecture, design, fashion and craft will take place on 1 July from 3pm to 4pm. Another session, concentrating on creative technology projects, including digital arts, extended reality (XR), immersive experiences and games, as well as visual arts and design festivals, is scheduled for 1 July from 8pm to 9:30pm.
Applicants are encouraged to review the 2026 application toolkit, sample application form and frequently asked questions available on the British Council’s website before submitting proposals.
The application window will remain open until 4:59am Bangladesh time on 13 August 2026.
According to the British Council, the programme aims to strengthen international cultural ties and support long-term collaboration between artists, creative organisations and cultural institutions in Bangladesh and the United Kingdom.
