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.
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: June 1, 2025, 23:59 BST
About the grants
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.
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.
The programme 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, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
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.
- Festivals/Biennales and Designers based in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
How to apply
Please read all information for applicants and supporting documents. Applications are submitted online via this link.
Important dates
Deadline: June 1, 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
There are three webinars for applicants to learn more about the programme and ask the programming team any questions. You can register for the sessions below.
- 26 March 9.00–9.30AM GMT: Register here
- 30 April 9.00–9.30AM BST (British Summer Time): Register here
- 19 May 9.00–9.30AM BST: Register here
Contact us
For questions regarding eligibility, contact Az Chinaliev, Grants Manager: az.chinaliev@britishcouncil.org.
View the original call here.
