British Council Scotland

08/07/2026

Our Connections Through Culture grants have kickstarted incredible new collaborations between the UK and countries worldwide.

Take ‘Encaustic Indonesia’ - a unique project rooted in a powerful international connection. Indonesian artist Ria Ekasari undertook a creative residency at the Isle of Portland in the UK, where she immersed herself in ancient encaustic painting techniques using natural beeswax and resin.

Inspired by the UK's landscape and creative community, Ria brought this knowledge back home to launch a public education platform, creating lasting connections between the UK and Indonesia through sustainable art.

Don’t miss your opportunity to connect with international partners. Apply now for our latest round of global arts grants.

💰 Funding: £5,000 to £15,000 per collaboration
📅 Deadline: 12 August 2026, 23:59 BST
👉 Apply here: https://ow.ly/Vt6850ZlCTG

03/07/2026

Calling all higher education institutions! Our Going Global Partnerships are currently offering grants of between £25,000 and £30,000 to support transnational education projects.

Click the links below to find out more about opportunities and funding to help you collaborate with peers internationally:

Closing 6 July: TNE Exploratory grants to partner with 15 countries around the world. Apply: https://ow.ly/LBiz50ZjXlU

Closing 25 August: TNE Grants to partner with India, with a focus on industry partnerships in emerging disciplines. Apply: https://ow.ly/gcJj50ZjXlQ

Closing 2 September: TNE Exploratory grants to partner with Armenia, Bangladesh and Thailand. Apply: https://ow.ly/9KfZ50ZjXlN

Coming soon: Gender Equality Partnerships and Disability Inclusion Partnerships. Register on our Opportunities and Insight portal to stay updated: https://ow.ly/bbf650ZjXlO

29/06/2026

Great to be at The University of Edinburgh recently for the HESPAL Annual Gathering, bringing together scholars, alumni, partners and supporters to celebrate the programme’s achievements.

The Higher Education Scholarships for Palestinians scheme is a UK scholarship, developed in partnership with Palestinian universities, to help strengthen the Palestinian higher education sector. Developing sustainable links between universities in Palestine and the UK helps support the next generation of senior Palestinian academics and maintain high-quality international standards.

It’s been amazing to see the programme grow from a cohort of ten to a vibrant community of 256 scholars! Coming together in person strengthens connections and encourages the scholars to collaborate on their work.

And over the past 15 years, Scottish universities have become some of HESPAL’s most valued partners, so it was particularly special to reconnect and celebrate the impact of the programme in Scotland this year.

Harish Lokhun, our Head of Education at British Council Scotland, said, "It has been wonderful to bring the current cohort of HESPAL scholars studying across UK universities together and to host the Annual Gathering for the first time in Scotland. Their journey to study here is testament to their resilience and adaptability and the programme continues to demonstrate how international exchange through higher education can have a positive impact and build lasting connections."

University of Edinburgh Deputy Vice-Principal International and Director of Edinburgh Global, Alan Mackay, added: “As a partner university, we are honoured to host the annual gathering of the Higher Education Scholarships for Palestinians Scheme (HESPAL) delivered by the British Council. Through HESPAL we continue to support the development of academics from Palestinian universities who will return to further strengthen the resilience and development of higher education and research across Palestine.”

28/06/2026

On International Pride Day, we’re looking back on the UK/Brazil Season of Culture 2025-26 as it draws to a close, including the UK delegation that recently took part in the São Paulo Pride Parade, the world’s largest Pride event!

The delegation included representatives from all four corners of the UK, including Oban Pride, and they also participated in roundtables, social projects and cultural exchanges with Pride organisations from across Brazil.

The UK/Brazil season is a joint initiative between the British Council and Instituto Guimarães Rosa aimed at deepening cultural ties between our two countries and promoting rich cultural heritage.

Amazing to see the delegation so warmly welcomed by their counterparts in Brazil, during this unique opportunity for Scottish artists and festival organisers to showcase their creativity, develop their networks and connect with global audiences.

📸 Maçã Verde

25/06/2026

The final weeks are approaching to apply for Learning Sectors, inspired by Formula 1, so if you’re looking for a practical way to build both STEM and communication skills in your school, don't miss out! ⏲️

Pupils don’t just learn STEM, they also learn how to communicate about it - from discussing ideas with partner schools in India or Spain to presenting solutions, students learn to build confidence around speaking and teamwork.

And teachers, if you're short on time Learning Sectors comes with ready-to-go, flexible resources designed to fit your curriculum!

Places are limited - apply now: https://ow.ly/VpSv50YXzPb

17/06/2026

International Arts Grant Opportunity 🌍

Applications are now open for our new round of Connections Through Culture grants. We are inviting artists and cultural organisations to apply for funding that supports a wide range of activities—from knowledge exchanges to creative residencies.

This year, our Connections Through Culture programme has expanded to include grants previously known as ‘Biennials Connect (Visual Arts)’ and ‘Architecture, Design and Fashion Biennials and Festivals Grants’.

Our grants have a proven track record of kickstarting impactful partnerships across the globe. Could yours be next?

Funding: £5,000 to £15,000 per collaboration 💰
Deadline: 12 August 2026, 23:59 BST 📅

Ready to take your project to the global stage? 👉 Apply here: https://ow.ly/7hYV50Zcn9p

29/05/2026

Explore life-changing opportunities to study, train and collaborate in over 30 countries across Europe and beyond. 🌎

For schools, colleges, universities, youth groups, sports clubs and adult education providers – with experiences from a few days to more than a year

Funding opens in November 2026. Get ready now: subscribe to the Erasmus+ UK - British Council newsletter, check out your options and find an international partner. 👀

Start your Erasmus+ journey today https://ow.ly/5uBy50Z1G3M

27/05/2026

Learning Sectors, supported by Formula 1 is back and even better!

With ready-to-go resources and a new focus on communication skills, it’s a great way to bring global learning and international partnerships into your classroom.

Through Learning Sectors, your students can collaborate on shared STEM challenges, develop ideas, solutions and the confidence to communicate them clearly.

Over 150,000 students took part last year - places are limited, so apply now:

The British Council and Formula 1 are working together to inspire the next generation and open up a world of future career opportunities.

14/05/2026

Scotland + Venice is now open to the public 📣

Visit Olivolo, where Bugarin + Castle's multi-layered exhibition ‘Shame Parade’, curated by Mount Stuart will represent Scotland throughout La Biennale di Venezia in 2026. Open Tuesday - Sunday from 10am - 6pm until 22 November 2026.

Shame Parade reimagines centuries-old European shaming rituals, known as rough music, charivari and scampanate, where spectacle, sound, and costume were used to discipline social transgressors. The exhibition features multiple artworks including: new film ‘Submit to Sound’, produced with Forma, and new works across the space; ‘Set Upon’, ‘Soundtrack for a clock and a jeepney’, ‘Nocturnal Amusements’ and ‘At Certayne Tymes’.

Shame here is not banished, but stretched to new emotional registers where defiance, play, and intimacy coexist. Bugarin + Castle offer no moral resolution. By mapping shame and transformation across continents and through time, they create a politically charged space where power and identity remain in motion.

📣 Shame Parade by Bugarin + Castle curated by Mount Stuart
📍 Olivolo, Castello 65A 30122, Venice
📅 Saturday 9 May to Sunday 22 November 2026
⏰ Open Tuesday - Sunday, 10am - 6pm.

British Council Scotland is part of the Scotland + Venice partnership, alongside Creative Scotland National Galleries of Scotland Architecture and Design Scotland - A&DS V&A Dundee and The Scottish Government.

27/04/2026

Ahead of the Scotland + Venice 2026 presentation for the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, we hear from artists Bugarin + Castle about their practice and upcoming presentation in Venice, Shame Parade.

Curated by Mount Stuart Glasgow-based Bugarin + Castle will present a multi-layered new project that uses the concept of the parade as a lens to explore complex emotional legacies of shame, sound and voice.

British Council Scotland is part of the Scotland + Venice partnership, alongside Creative Scotland, National Galleries of Scotland, Architecture and Design Scotland - A&DS, V&A Dundee and The Scottish Government

Shame Parade by Bugarin + Castle, curated by Mount Stuart Trust for Scotland + Venice Olivolo, Castello 59/C 30122, Venice
Saturday 9 May to Sunday 22 November 2026

Film by Nat McGowan | Second Camera: Jen Martin | Titles: Tangent

Titles audio: Soundtrack by Ken Santos for Bugarin + Castle, Submit to Sound, 2026, Moving Image, Courtesy the Artists and Scotland + Venice © Bugarin + Castle

Film © Scotland + Venice 2026