The new Festival Connect Fund enables festival collaboration between Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and the UK, supporting festival organisers and managers with funding, skills, network building and knowledge to enhance festival management and ensure scalability and sustainability.
The Fund aims to strengthen cross-regional partnerships, foster artistic exchange, and encourage innovation in festival-making and cultural engagement. The British Council invites applications from festivals based in SSA and the UK with collaborative proposals that promote cultural exchange, mobility, and community impact.
Festival Connect 2025 supports festivals and festival-led projects that include one or more of the following:
- Artistic collaboration and co-production between SSA and UK partners
- Festival making and delivery, including community engagement
- Mobility and exchange between SSA and UK (and within SSA)
- Capacity building, including mentoring and coaching
- Use of creative technology or digital components
- Marketing and storytelling activities that engage audiences aged 18–35
Activities may include performances, exhibitions, artist residencies, workshops, talks, and other cultural engagements in digital, in-person, or hybrid formats. Applicants must be festivals that have completed a minimum of two previous editions (in-person or digital).
Projects must be based in Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe or Malawi, in partnership with England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
Applicants can apply in three tiers of scales – 5,000 GBP, 10,000GBP, or 15,000 GBP.
