As announced by Arts Council England Chair Liz Forgan in her keynote speech at State of the Arts earlier this month, Arts Council England and the British Council have today launched the ‘Artists International Development Fund’, a £750,000 fund which will support English artists to travel, explore and collaborate internationally, developing markets and audiences overseas for their work. The fund is a response to the evident and increasing insistence by artists that they need access to their peers, to audiences and to influences from other places and other cultures. It is hoped the fund will be a valuable tool in helping to artists build on domestic success at crucial stages of their career.
The programme offers early stage development opportunities for individual freelance and self employed artists based in England to spend time building links with artists, organisations and/or creative producers in another country. Artists can apply for small grants between £1,000 – £5,000. All projects must include one or two periods spent working abroad by the artist.
Alan Davey, Chief Executive, Arts Council England said: “The Artists International Development Fund is practical, flexible support for artists who wish to expand their practice by working internationally. It will help develop the careers of individual artists and create new links between the art community in England and their international colleagues. It has been created in response to the strong message we’ve received from artists that working internationally and exchanging ideas is of great importance to them. The opportunities, aspirations and ambitions the fund will support will also drive the creation of new and exciting work which will benefit audiences in this country.”
Graham Sheffield, Director Arts, British Council said: “Our relationship with Arts Council England has in the past months moved into a new phase and we are delighted to be announcing this fund together. Helping young and emerging artists is an important part of the British Council’s arts work. It is vital that the UK’s creative sector has the chance to develop an international perspective and a global network at a young age and this scheme will facilitate that.”
For further details and to apply for the fund Read on
