NEW INTERNATIONAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS
The British Council and Arts Council England are pleased to announce that funding from the Artists’ International Development Fund will be open to applications from designers, architects and those working in fashion design for the next and future rounds. From February 2014 architects and designers will be eligible to apply for developmental grants, which are between £1,000 to £5,000, to travel, explore and collaborate internationally while carrying out professional projects.
The Artists' international development fund is a joint programme between Arts Council England and the British Council. It is primarily designed to assist young artists in developing their international careers, supporting individual artists based in England to travel, explore and collaborate internationally, developing markets and audiences overseas for their work. Since its inception, the British Council and Arts Council England have made 128 awards totalling nearly £500,000 enabling artists working in theatre, dance, music and the visual arts to travel the world from Australia to Zimbabwe, developing their experience and creating new networks.
The fund is intended to act as a springboard for artists across all disciplines to promote themselves on the international scene. The aim is to produce a cadre of artists and creative practitioners in the UK and around the world who have experienced the benefits of international working between the UK and other countries and are advocates for it. The fund is not just a way to broaden the horizons of artists; it is also about giving audiences the chance to experience the best art from around the world.
The fund is open to creative producers, curators, editors and artists, as well as architects, fashion designers and designers. Although the programme is aimed at individual artists, small groups of artists who normally collaborate in their work can also apply; including musicians and visual artists who usually create work together, or writers and their translators.
Vicky Richardson, British Council Director of Architecture, Design and Fashion said: "This is the first time a travel grant scheme of this sort has been offered to architects, designers, curators and editors. We're anticipating a lot of interest, and we'll be looking forward to seeing the new work and international collaborations that result from it.”
Nick McDowell, Director of International and London, Arts Council England said: “The Arts Council’s mission is great art and culture for everyone. Our joint programme with the British Council makes a real contribution to this mission, enabling artists from across all disciplines – as well as curators and producers - to collaborate internationally. The Artists’ International Development Fund plays a significant role in realising our refreshed approach to international work and deepening our partnership with the British Council. By making the scheme available to more art forms, the programme can benefit an even wider spectrum of the creativity.”
For the next round (7), the deadline for applications is 5pm Friday 9 May 2013. Activities must start after Friday 27 June 2014 and end before 31 March 2015.