International

The British Council has announced £14m of funding to protect international heritage at risk from factors including conflict and climate change.

The funding will be distributed among 17 new projects over two-and-a-half years, through the British Council’s Cultural Protection Fund, in partnership with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

The projects receiving funding include a plan by Egyptian NGO Megawra to revive and protect two Islamic monuments in Cairo, where rising temperatures and excessive flooding are damaging buildings and infrastructure. 

“From the conservation of 13th century manuscripts in Gaza, to preserving buildings in Cairo, it is vital we do our utmost to protect precious global heritage at risk due to climate change and conflict,” said Arts Minister Lord Parkinson.

The British Council received an unprecedented level of high-quality proposals for funding, said Stephanie Grant, Director of the Cultural Protection Fund.

“The selected projects represent a diverse range of approaches to protecting cultural heritage, but with a shared motivation to safeguard cultural heritage for future generations, tackle urgent global challenges and deliver positive societal and economic impact for local populations,” she said.

The British Council also announced that it will fund two year-long research fellowships on cultural relations and climate action, in partnership with the American University of Cairo, the Indian Institute of Technology and the International Centre for Climate Change and Development in Bangladesh.

Two early-career researchers from the global south will receive funding to undertake fellowships at the University of Cambridge.

A fund to support artists and musicians to tour internationally in an environmentally responsible way has reopened for a second round.

The International Touring and Environmental Responsibility Fund, run by Arts Council England and the Danish Arts Foundation, in partnership with Julie’s Bicycle and the Danish Embassy, aims to support performing arts professionals in England and Denmark to fully understand their touring footprint and "sustain a means of sharing art which supports transition to a global low carbon future".

In the first year of the programme, a pilot year, 20 artists and companies participated in a three-month online programme looking at the challenges posed by international touring, and finding ways to reduce the carbon and environmental impacts of their tours. In spring 2022, three projects were selected for further funding to test some of the new approaches.

For year two the programme is being expanded to include music alongside other performing arts. Applications for the second year of the programme can be made online and are open until 12pm on 20 January 2023. 

"By exploring new methods of international touring and collaboration, the programme will help the cultural sector play its part in addressing the urgent challenge of the climate crisis, while also sustaining the collaborative relationships that fuel developments in art creativity and culture around the world," Simon Mellor, Deputy Chief Executive at Arts Council England said. 

Calls to make it easier for UK museums to consider repatriating cultural objects have been rebuked by the government.

The House of Lords debated a motion to amend the 40-year old National Heritage Act, tabled by Conservative former culture minister Lord Ed Vaizey, last Thursday (13 October).

Vaizey is chairing a new body aiming to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece. He has also suggested give greater freedom for museums to dispose of objects in their collection and deal with restitution requests.

Similar proposals have been made by museum sector leaders, including V&A Director Tristram Hunt.

But Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt has told MPs revisiting the legislation is “not a priority” for the government.

Her comment followed former Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden saying that amending the legislation risks institutions “facing a barrage of claims for restitution".

“I can assure you that if we allow this Pandora’s box to open, we will regret it for generations to come as we see those artefacts being removed to countries where they may be less safe,” he added.

Ms Mordaunt replied: “I thank Mr Dowden for raising this issue, and there were many nods around the chamber when he was speaking.

“I am aware that Lord Vaizey has a debate on this matter in the House of Lords, but I can tell Mr Dowden that revisiting the National Heritage Act is not a priority for this government.”

Mordaunt’s response appears to echo Prime Minister Liz Truss’ stance on the issue, who told GB News at the Conservative Party conference earlier this month: “I don’t support that”.

The Government Art Collection (GAC) is launching a five-year project to acquire works by contemporary British visual artists for display at UK government outposts around the world.

The DCMS project, called X-UK, will result in works being on show in more than 125 countries in embassies and other government buildings. It aims to showcase “the best of British creativity” and promote interest in the creative sector.

GAC will collaborate with the Contemporary Visual Arts Network in England, the Scottish Contemporary Art Network and networks in Wales and Northern Ireland to select emerging artists.

During a pilot scheme during 2020-2021, GAC made an initial selection of over 90 pieces by 45 artists, which are currently on display in government buildings in the UK and overseas.

Artists whose work was acquired during the pilot have since achieved new career highlights. Glasgow-based artist Alberta Whittle went on to represent Scotland at the 59th Biennale di Venezia in 2022 and currently has pieces on display in the National Galleries of Scotland.  

Arts Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said that X-UK “aims to be a true reflection of every part of the United Kingdom”. 

Shailesh Vara, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said the project “will undoubtedly serve as a fantastic springboard for new and emerging artists from Northern Ireland to display their talent on the world stage”. 

A public art trail reflecting on colonial histories launched in seven cities at the weekend.

Created by The World Reimagined, the project aims to explore the UK’s relationship with the transatlantic slave trade, its impact on society and how action can be taken to make racial justice a reality.

More than 100 artist-designed globe sculptures exploring themes including the culture of Africa before the slave trade and an ode to the Windrush generation are located in Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London and Swansea.

All trails are connected by a digital platform that allows visitors to explore the collection and the history it reflects.

The art trail previewed outside Westminster Abbey last Thursday (11 August) and will be free to view by the public across the seven locations until 31 October.

“These thought-provoking, challenging and inspiring works of art that are now transforming the streets of our host cities invite us to understand it is not ‘Black history’ – it’s all of our history,” said The World Reimagined Co-Founder Michelle Gayle.

“All of us have a role to play in the work of making racial justice a reality. So, we hope you will explore the trails and join the conversation.”

DCMS is extending its UK Global Screen Fund for three years with an additional £21m of funding.

Designed to boost international development and distribution opportunities post-Brexit, the fund supported more than 65 productions in its £7m pilot year.

According to DCMS, the continued investment will increase exports of UK film, TV and video games in new territories, help productions promote work at film festivals and support companies to hire staff with specialist skills.

It is split into three strands with the first, a channel aimed at supporting the sale and distribution of UK feature films overseas, reopening today (17 May).

Two subsequent strands, aimed at international business development and international co-production, will relaunch in the coming months.

Ben Roberts, CEO of BFI, administers of the fund, said international collaboration is fundamental to making new films and dramas that audiences around the world want to see.

“We are proud of the incredible craft and talent within our screen industries, and look forward to how we can help grow opportunities for the UK globally over the next three years of this essential fund."