The British Council is now accepting applications for its 2025 Connections Through Culture (CTC) grants, which offer funding of up to £10,000 for artists and creative organisations collaborating between the UK and 19 partner countries, including Bangladesh to bring powerful cultural projects to life. The application deadline will be June 23, 2025, 8:00 pm (Bangladesh time). Prospective applicants from Bangladesh are invited to visit the website of the British Council Bangladesh for further information on how to apply.
The Connections Through Culture grants offer up to £10,000 in funding for innovative, international initiatives in arts and culture. These can be residencies, performances, policy labs, exhibitions, research and development, or any form of initiative designed to spark dialogue, foster mutual understanding, and promote long-term international partnerships.
Last year, the programme supported 84 collaborative projects, including 4 in Bangladesh. Applications for the 2025 grant cycle are now open. This year, approximately 90 grants will be awarded worldwide to collaborative initiatives co-designed by creatives based in the UK and internationally in any one of the 19 participating countries: Australia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Mainland China, Georgia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Viet Nam. The deadline will be 23 June 2025 8 p.m. Bangladesh time.
The grants embrace all disciplines, whether architecture, design, fashion and craft, theatre, dance and circus, literature, film and creative technology, visual arts, music, or multidisciplinary initiatives, which may be digital, physical, or hybrid in format. The grant is open to initiatives that will start and end between October 2025 and 31 October 2026.
Information on how to apply is available on the website of the British Council Bangladesh.
“Connections Through Culture is more than a grant – it is a catalyst for creativity, collaboration, and change,” said Jill Richens, Regional Arts Director, British Council South Asia. “We are proud to champion projects that not only celebrate artistic innovation but also build bridges between cultures and communities.”
Stephen Forbes, Country Director, British Council Bangladesh, added, “Building on the resounding success of last year’s inaugural of the Connections Through Culture Grant in Bangladesh, we eagerly invite artists and art practitioners to embrace this year’s open call with renewed enthusiasm and positivity. This programme empowers artists and organisations to imagine new futures together. Through shared creativity and mutual respect, we are seeing meaningful partnerships flourish across borders—and the impact is lasting”
To apply and access the full eligibility criteria and application toolkit, visit: https://britishcouncilarts.grantplatform.com/
Explore the creativity of previous grantees and be inspired: https://arts.britishcouncil.org/projects/connections-through-culture-grants