Short Description

The British Council invites biennales and festivals to apply for the 2025–26 Architecture, Design & 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. 

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:

  • Take place in Official Development Assistance (ODA) recipient countries or feature designers from these regions.
  • Support emerging designers (within 10 years of practice).
  • Involve designers and/or festivals based in countries where the British Council operates excluding Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan.

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

How to Apply

Online Application

Program Benefits & Awards

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

  • UK-based biennales and festivals showcasing work by international designers (Non-UK-based, excluding designers based in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka).
  • International (non-UK-based, excluding Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) 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.

Entry Fee

None

Location

London, United Kingdom

Timeline

  • Application Dealine: 1 June 2025

Website Link: https://arts.britishcouncil.org/get-involved/opportunities/architecture-design-and-fashion-biennales-and-festivals-grants

ExhibitionGrantPublic PresentationTravel costs