- Welsh arts organisations awarded travel grants: The British Council has awarded travel grants of up to £3,000 to support Wales-based arts organisations to visit mainland China in 2026 and explore international partnerships.
- Supporting the UK’s creative industries: The British Council’s online resource China Now will host opportunities, sector insights and case studies to support UK cultural organisations looking to build international partnerships.
- Building global cultural connections: The support from the British Council will enable recipients to meet cultural organisations, festivals and venues in China, helping them better understand the local cultural landscape and develop relationships that could lead to future collaborations.
Seven arts organisations in Wales have been awarded new travel grants from the British Council, enabling them to explore partnership opportunities and strengthen cultural connections with mainland China.
The grants, worth up to £3,000 each, will support representatives from Welsh arts organisations to travel to mainland China in 2026. Through these visits, recipients will gain a deeper understanding of China’s cultural landscape, meet with potential partners, and develop relationships that could lead to future international collaborations.
The seven recipients of the 2026 Wales–China Travel Grants showcase the richness and diversity of Wales’ cultural sector, spanning theatre, film, visual arts and multi-disciplinary practice. They include Common/Wealth, an award-winning site-specific theatre company; Hijinx Theatre, Wales’s leading inclusive theatre company; the International Ceramics Festival in Aberystwyth; Iris Prize, an internationally recognised LGBTQ+ film organisation; Pontio Arts Centre, Bangor University’s multi-artform cultural venue; Theatr Iolo, creators of bold theatre for young audiences; and WOW Wales One World Film Festival, Wales’ longest-running global cinema festival.
These organisations will use the grants to explore China’s cultural landscape, meet potential partners, and build international collaborations. The programme supports creative exchange, cultural dialogue and the sharing of ideas across borders, helping to showcase Welsh creativity on the global stage.
The initiative forms part of the British Council’s ongoing work to connect the UK’s arts and culture sectors with global audiences. By enabling Welsh organisations to engage internationally, the programme helps showcase the creativity of Wales on the world stage while opening the door to new cultural and economic opportunities.
The programme also aligns with the ambitions of the UK Government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan and the Welsh Government’s Priorities for Culture framework, which recognises the creative industries as a key driver of economic growth and international influence for the UK. By encouraging international collaboration and supporting creative organisations to build global partnerships, initiatives like the British Council Travel Grants help strengthen the UK’s creative economy while expanding opportunities for artists and cultural organisations across the nations of the UK.
Speaking about the grants, Ruth Cocks Director, British Council Wales, said:
“We’re delighted to support these Welsh arts organisations as they take the next step in building international connections in mainland China. Wales has an incredibly vibrant and innovative cultural sector, and these travel grants will give organisations the opportunity to explore new partnerships, exchange ideas and develop relationships that could lead to future creative collaboration.
“International engagement is vital for the growth of our cultural sector. By enabling Welsh organisations to connect with partners in China, we’re helping showcase the creativity of Wales globally while opening up new opportunities for artists and audiences alike.”
Find out more about China Now.