This three-year British Council and Arts Council of Wales/Wales Arts International programme invites individual artists, arts organisations and festivals based in India or Wales to co-create new artistic work and share practice.
This cross-cultural work will be supported to tour festivals in both countries in years two and three, encouraging the development of new international opportunities and networks; from research and development in year one to international festivals touring by years two and three.
The scheme will promote mutual and equitable collaboration between India and Wales so organisations can exchange sector knowledge, skills and business models to build a more sustainable and resilient festival sector in both countries.
The scheme launches 24 October 2019 at the Welsh Government and Honorary Consulate of India in Wales’ Diwali celebrations in Cardiff.
The Welsh Government’s (draft) International Strategy indicates arts and heritage as a means of developing strong cultural relations and India is an important priority country.
This grant scheme is run by the same partners and builds on the success of #IndiaWales, the joint funding programme between the British Council and Wales Arts International/Arts Council of Wales, and Wales’ involvement in the UK-India Year of Culture in 2017.
#IndiaWales was an ambitious programme that supported more than 2,000 participants across 13 projects, within applied arts, dance, film, literature, music and visual and applied arts, engaged more than 80,000 audience members in Wales and India and reached over 4.9 million people through social media.
Barbara Wickham OBE, Country Director, British Council India said; “Through our work in arts we aim to strengthen the creative sector between India and the UK, helping organisations in both countries to connect, create and collaborate. Wales has a strong legacy of connections through arts with India and the new Connections Through Culture: #IndiaWales grant will further strengthen this bond. We have a strong focus on the development of the festivals sector in both countries and we hope organisations from across India will be encouraged to apply for this grant".
Eluned Haf, Director, Wales Arts International said; “The arts have a fundamental role to play in bridging our cultures and in uniting people – within Wales and with the world beyond. The long standing #IndiaWales programme, managed by Wales Arts International and British Council, has connected audiences and artists in both countries across languages, cultures and traditions, and has developed and enriched artistic practice, careers and ambition. We are delighted to support British Council’s new India Wales Connections through Culture: #IndiaWales scheme that will help to nurture existing relationships and grow new partnerships".