Flachau Wind Map by Liang-Jung Chen, Minus 20 Degrees festival, Austria ©

British Council

The British Council invites biennales and festivals to apply for the 2025–26 Architecture, Design, and Fashion Biennales and Festivals Grants to showcase international designers. 

Since 2016, the programme has promoted cross-cultural exchange by providing opportunities for design practitioners to connect with biennials and build meaningful international partnerships. 

You can apply for grants of up to £10,000 to facilitate showcasing, exhibition building, travel, presentation of completed design work, networking, and skills building.

Information for applicants

Applicants should read the following information in full before submitting an application. 

Deadline: 1 June 2025, 23:59 BST (British Summer Time) 

For more information: https://arts.britishcouncil.org/get-involved/opportunities/architecture-...

About the grants

Grants of up to £10,000 are available to support:

  • UK-based biennales and festivals showcasing work by international (non-UK-based) designers.
  • International (non-UK-based) biennales and festivals showcasing work by UK designers.

The grants facilitate exhibitions, displays, installations, or similar presentations of completed design work across architecture, design, fashion, and craft, as well as projects at the intersection of these disciplines.

Funding covers

  • Exhibition, installation, production, and travel costs
  • Festival presence and engagement activities
  • Miscellaneous costs associated with presenting completed design work

Funding does not cover research and development activities.

Eligibility

  • Biennale or festival representatives must submit the applications. Grants will be awarded to festival organisations, not individual designers.
  • Design practitioners interested in applying should coordinate with the relevant festival. In exceptional cases, practitioners may apply directly if they provide a confirmation letter from the festival stating that the festival can receive the funds.

We particularly welcome projects that:

 

All projects must foster collaboration between UK-based and international designers, ensuring at least one party (designer or festival) is UK-based.

Not eligible: projects focused on other art forms, such as film, visual art, music, performance, or conference attendance. The British Council has separate open calls for these disciplines.

How to apply

Please read all information for applicants and supporting documents. Applications are submitted online via this link. 

Important dates

Deadline: 1 June 2025, 23:59 BST

Outcome Notification: End of June 2025

Grant Payment: Within three months of notification (applicants should plan accordingly)

Activity Period: Mid-September 2025- August 2026

Information webinars

We are hosting three webinars for applicants to learn more about the programme and ask our programming team any questions. You can register for the sessions below. 

26 March 9.00–9.30 AM GMT: Register here

30 April 9.00–9.30 AM BST (British Summer Time): Register here

19 May 9.00–9.30 AM BST: Register here

Contact us

For questions regarding eligibility, contact Az Chinaliev, Grants Manager: 

az.chinaliev@britishcouncil.org 

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