British Council Awards Nine Filipino Projects in 2025 Connections Through Culture Programme

The British Council has announced the 2025 recipients of its Connections Through Culture Programme, which fosters artistic collaborations between the United Kingdom and international partners. A total of 127 projects worldwide received grants this year, with nine projects from the Philippines selected to participate.

These initiatives unite artists and organizations from the UK and diverse global regions to exchange ideas, collaborate creatively, and explore innovative approaches to pressing issues such as environmental sustainability, cultural heritage, and digital innovation.

Reflecting on the selected projects, Andrei Nikolai Pamintuan, Head of Arts at British Council Philippines, stated, "Each 2025 project represents artists finding mutual understanding, experimenting with new forms of artmaking, and responding to sociocultural developments in both the Philippines and the UK. These cross-cultural partnerships underscore the vital role of the arts as catalysts for transformation and dialogue." He further added, "Providing creatives with strong support enables them to develop impactful works that resonate well beyond their local communities."

Originally launched in the Asia Pacific, the programme has expanded its reach to include Europe and South Asia, with Nepal joining for the first time in 2025. This growth enables more artists than ever to connect with UK counterparts, promoting cultural exchange and collaborative innovation.

British Council Director of Arts, Ruth Mackenzie CBE, emphasized the programme's diverse and inclusive nature, saying, "Connections Through Culture brings together a wide range of traditions, ideas, and artistic practices, creating fresh and meaningful cultural expressions. Its expansion strengthens the arts as a powerful force for peace, trust, and prosperity across national boundaries."

In this funding cycle, the British Council is allocating over GBP 1.1 million (approximately PHP 85.47 million) globally to support grantees in pushing creative boundaries and delivering projects that transcend borders.

Among the Filipino projects awarded grants are:

• Alternating Currents: Studio Voltaire Residency (Mark Salvatus, Philippines; Studio Voltaire, UK)
• INFERNO Summit: Transnational Futures (ELEPHANT, Philippines; INFERNO, UK)
• Island to Island (Mt. Cloud Bookshop, Philippines; Young Identity, UK)
• Knowledge Exchange on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and Decolonising Practices (Alain Zedrick Camiling, Philippines; Dr. Aleksandr Brkic, UK)
• Queering Carmen in the Philippines – R&D towards a ‘bakla’ Carmen (Roselle Pineda, Philippines; Spark Opera, UK)
• Racing the King Tide – Island Voices (Laurice Jamero, Philippines; Christopher Chadwick, UK)
• sonic_{imprints}° (Jett Ilagan, Philippines; Sonica Glasgow, UK)
• Tindog sa Dagat: Floating Art Lab for Adaptive Futures (Art Relief Mobile Kitchen, Philippines; Rhine Bernardino, UK)
• Unpacking Resilience: From Migration to the Climate Crisis (Council for Climate and Conflict Action Asia, Philippines; Francesca Humi, UK)

For additional details, visit the British Council Philippines Connections Through Culture 2025 grantees page.

About Connections Through Culture The programme supports emerging cultural partnerships by funding artists and cultural organizations across Asia-Pacific and Europe. It emphasizes new ideas, collaborative exchanges, and the development of innovative artistic projects.

About the British Council As the UK's international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities, the British Council promotes global peace and prosperity by fostering connections, mutual understanding, and trust across over 200 countries and territories through arts, education, and the English language.

www.britishcouncil.org