Open call: Biennials Connect Grants

About the Open Call

Our Biennials Connect Grants are now offering grants of up to £9,500 to UK and international biennials / festivals in eligible countries. Biennials Connect Grants support visual artists’ participation in UK and international festivals and biennials. The grants directly benefit artists by facilitating opportunities for travel, the production of new work, networking, skills building and showcasing through biennial partners. Key dates: Applications open: 23 June 2025. Application deadline: 14 September 2025, 23.59 (BST). Notification of decisions will be sent to applications in the autumn of 2025. Projects start in February 2026 and finish by the end of February 2027. Who can apply? Our Biennials Connect Grants are open to UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) and international biennials, festivals and art organisations. Individual artists are not eligible to apply. International biennials / festivals must be based in eligible countries (full list provided). Eligibility criteria: Organisations applying must be one of the following: UK biennials or festivals supporting international visual artists’ participation; international biennials or festivals supporting visual artists’ participation from the UK; or other visual arts organisations collaborating with a biennial/festival. They must be based in UK or an eligible international country, be primarily a visual art biennial or festival (multi-arts can apply with visual arts focus), and be supporting artists over the age of 18 who can travel internationally. They should support artists not previously worked with or new projects with existing artists. Applicants must share British Council’s commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and fair artist compensation. The core activity or presentation will be from February 2026, with final activity and evaluation before February 2027. One application per biennial organisation per edition. What can the grant be used for? We’re awarding grants to enable biennials and festivals in the UK to support international visual artists participation and international biennials and festivals in eligible countries to support UK visual artist participation. Visual arts organisations which are neither biennials or festivals can apply if they partner with a biennial or festival. This grant is for biennial and festival organisations to specifically support travel, artwork production, networking, professional development and skills building activities, or public programme for artists such as residencies and events as well as access requirements. Activity may take place online and/or in person. If face-to-face activity is planned, applicants must follow latest guidance provided by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office for the relevant countries. Core activity should take place from February 2026 to February 2027. Do any particular projects have priority? Priority will be given to projects that: foster collaboration between UK-based and international artists, curators, arts organisations and / or festivals and biennials; involve visual artists in the early or mid stages of their career; are initiated by, or engaging with, organisations and artists based in countries which are Official Development Assistance (ODA) recipients. We are particularly interested in applications by biennial or festival organisations supporting artists whose practice is collaborative, cross-cultural or community based.

What is Offered

Grants of up to £9,500 are available for Official Development Assistance (ODA) related projects, and up to £5,000 for non-ODA related projects. An additional £2,500 can be applied for project access costs. The grants specifically support travel, artwork production, networking, professional development, skills building activities, public programmes for artists (such as residencies and events), and access requirements.

Requirements

The opportunity is open to UK and international biennials, festivals, and visual arts organisations collaborating with a biennial/festival. Individual artists are not eligible. Organisations must be based in the UK or an eligible international country, be primarily visual art-focused (multi-arts must demonstrate visual arts focus), and support artists over 18 who can travel internationally. They should support new collaborations or new projects with existing artists. Applicants must commit to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and ensure artists are fairly compensated. Projects must run from February 2026 to February 2027, with final activity and evaluation completed by the end of February 2027. Only one application per biennial organisation per edition is allowed.

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted online via the British Council Arts Grant Platform (britishcouncilarts.grantplatform.com). Applicants need to create a free account. An application must be submitted by one lead applicant, with a collaboration feature available for project partners. For detailed guidance, download the Application Toolkit. Online information sessions are optional.