Our Connections Through Culture (CTC) grants support artistic collaboration between the UK and Saudi Arabia. 

CTC is designed to support creative practitioners, cultural professionals, artists, organisations, festivals, biennials, hubs and collectives, with projects spanning a broad range of themes and art forms. The programme supports meaningful partnerships, cross-cultural exchange and long-term collaboration between the UK and participating countries.

This year, CTC has expanded to include ‘Biennials Connect (Visual Arts) grants’ and ‘Architecture, Design and Fashion Biennials and Festivals Grants’. Read our application toolkit and FAQs for more information.

  • Applications open: Wednesday 17 June 2026
  • Application deadline: Wednesday 12 August 2026 at 23:59 BST
  • Notification of decision sent to applicants: From October 2026
  • Online information sessions: See below for dates and times.
  • Project delivery must take place between December 2026 and December 2027

Applications must involve collaboration between at least one UK-based partner and at least one partner based in an eligible participating country. 

Each partner must be legally based in the country they are applying from at the time of application and throughout the project activity period.

Participating counties:

Albania, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam.

Eligible applicants may include:

  • Artists and creative practitioners, 
  • Arts and cultural organisations, 
  • Festivals and biennials*, 
  • Cultural professionals, 
  • Creative hubs, networks and collectives, 
  • Organisations working across arts, culture and the creative sectors.

* Applications involving projects organised by, or taking place as part of, Visual Arts and Architecture, Design, Fashion and Craft festivals should be made by the festival or biennial organisation, rather than by individual artists, designers or practitioners.

Download the application toolkit below for the full eligibility criteria.

Eligible activity may include: 

  • Co-creation and collaborative* artistic development
  • Residencies and exchanges
  • Workshops, panels, talks and knowledge-sharing activity
  • Research and development
  • Collaborative exhibitions, performances, presentations and showcases
  • Festivals and biennials activity
  • Digital innovation 
  • Showcasing activity (including biennale and festival participation, where the showcase constitutes a collaborative project between partners in the UK and participating countries)
  • Curatorial exchange, artist or designer participation 
  • Public programmes and audience engagement
  • Artist, designer, practitioner or participant development
  • Professional development and networking
  • Capacity building and shared learning
  • Interdisciplinary or cross-artform activity

*For further clarification of our definition of ‘collaboration’ please see our FAQs page.

Projects can span a broad range of themes and art forms, including Visual Arts; Architecture, Design, Fashion and Craft; Music; Literature; Theatre and Dance; Film and Creative Technology, including digital arts, XR/immersive, and games.

Grant amount For projects between the UK and:
 Up to £15,000  Argentina, Bangladesh, Colombia, Pakistan, Peru, Saudi Arabia.
 Up to £10,000  Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mainland China, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Malaysia, Montenegro Nigeria, North Macedonia, Palestine, Philippines, Serbia, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam.
 Up to £9,000  Egypt
 Up to £8,000  Mexico
 Up to £7,500  Kenya
 Up to £6,500  South Africa
 Up to £5,000  Australia, New Zealand, Tanzania

In these sessions you can connect with our global team of arts managers and learn more about submitting a successful application. 

All times listed below are UK (BST). 

Information sessions for applicants based in participating countries globally:

Tuesday 30 June, 08:00–9:30 (BST) – BSL interpretation available

Tuesday 30 June, 15:00–16:30 (BST)

Global information session for Visual Arts, Architecture, Design, Fashion and Craft festival and biennial applicants:

Wednesday 1 July, 10:00–11:30 (BST)

Global information session for Creative Technology projects, including digital arts, XR/immersive, and games. Plus, Visual Arts, Architecture, Design, Fashion and Craft festival and biennial applicants:

Wednesday 1 July, 15:00–16:30 (BST)

Register for the sessions here

In this short video, our Arts Managers provide further information and guidance on the application process. 

Before beginning your application, please see our global Arts website for Application Guidance Toolkit and full FAQs.  

Read the FAQs for full information on eligibility, use of AI tools, plagiarism, intellectual property and changes to approved projects. 

Read the FAQs

Apply now

For enquiries, please contact us through this form.

Apply for a Grant 

Applications are now open.  Please read all the information for applicants and download the application toolkit below before applying.

Apply now

Applications close 12 August 2026 at 23:59 BST.
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