British Council Supports 10 UK-PHL Collaborations Through ‘Connections Through Culture Grant’

The British Council announced the recipients of the 2024 Connections Through Culture (CTC) grant program, a platform fostering vibrant collaborations between artists in the United Kingdom and the Asia-Pacific.

The program supports 84 innovative projects, including 10 collaborations between participants from the UK and the Philippines, strengthening partnerships in the region.

This year’s grant cycle marks an exciting milestone as the program expands to include South Asia, welcoming grantees from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka alongside those from Australia, New Zealand, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

The CTC grant program will provide more than GBP741,000 (PHP53 million) in funding across the region, enabling artists and cultural organizations to bring their creative visions to life.

These grants aim to build lasting cultural partnerships between the UK and the Asia-Pacific, fostering dialogue, innovation, and mutual understanding.

The British Council’s CTC grant program is a testament to the organization’s commitment to cultivating international artistic connections and promoting the exchange of ideas and creativity.

The 2024 grantees represent a dynamic mix of projects across disciplines, including film, creative technology, literature, visual arts, theater, dance, design, fashion, craft, and music. These collaborations will generate fresh ideas to address global challenges such as diversity, inclusion, and climate change.

“We are thrilled to announce our 2024 grantees, whose projects highlight the incredible power of cross-cultural collaboration and the rich diversity of artistic expression in the Philippines. This year’s CTC projects span the archipelago—from Quezon, Leyte, Siquijor, and Siargao—reflecting the country’s wide range of creative practices. These collaborations reaffirm the British Council’s commitment to supporting diverse voices, fostering inclusivity, and expanding opportunities for artists,” said Andrei Nikolai Pamintuan, head of arts at the British Council in the Philippines.

“These partnerships celebrate the richness of artistic exchange while tackling some of the most pressing issues of our time. We look forward to seeing the transformative impact of these projects as they come to life.”

Projects Supported from the Philippines:

Bridging Communities in Music: String Ensembles in Manila and Leyte
UK: Carmen Flores, Nottingham Chamber Music Festival
Philippines: UP Arco, Joselle Cayatano

Coastal Connections
UK: Pilot Theatre
Philippines: Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA)

Dancing to Music You Hate: The Philippine Remix
UK: Jasmine Gardosi
Philippines: Leandro Reyes, Babaylanes

Forage Friction
UK: Freya Edmondes (Elvin Brandhi)
Philippines: Tengal Drilon

Growing a Field
UK: Reneta Minoldo
Philippines: Katherine Nuñez

Hapag Ugnayan Potlucks: An International Exchange with Women Creatives and Land Workers
UK: Malaika Cunningham (The Bare Project)
Philippines: Jen Horn (Good Food Community)

Nature KwenTour: Co-creating Solarpunk Futures
UK: ESEA Green Lions
Philippines: Lokal Lab

Shame Parade
UK: Angel Cohn Castle
Philippines: Ken Santos

Swallowed by Water
UK: Atlantic Institute-XR Lab
Philippines: Rappler

The Net
UK: Lorna Nickson Brown (Copper Thread Productions)
Philippines: Anjeline de Dios

For more information, visit British Council Philippines.