Aims/priorities: The Digital Collaboration Fund aims to address the challenge of continuing to support international artistic collaboration during COVID-19 restrictions.
Through a series of grants, this fund will support organisations to devise new virtual ways of working internationally, in turn creating a climate-friendly approach to international collaboration and artistic exchange.
There are three strands available under this programme:
- Research and development grants: Grants to research and develop proposals for new virtual collaboration projects.
- Restart grants: Grants for organisations to restart projects that are currently on pause due to the impact of COVID-19 and covert the project to a digital/virtual output.
- Collaboration grants: Grants for new collaboration projects with a focus on virtual and other new ways of working.
Who can apply? The fund is open to arts and culture organisations and higher education organisations with an arts and culture focus. Applications must be a partnership between at least one UK organisation and one organisation based in one of the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Indonesia, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Pakistan, Peru, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia) Yemen, Zimbabwe.
Whilst the funds are designed to benefit the artistic community, applications will only be accepted from legally registered organisations and collectives. Applicants must have a registered business bank account.
Grant amount: There are two levels of grants available, a small grant of £10,000 to £20,000 (4 grants awarded per area) or a large grant of £40,000 to £50,000 (5 grants awarded per area) in the following three areas:
- Research and development grants
- Restart grants
- Collaboration grants
In general, funding should be split 60/40 between the UK and the other countries. The lead partner should get no more than 60% of the funding and at least 40% of funding should be distributed in one or more of the ODA-eligible countries.
Application process: Applications must be submitted online via the British Council's website.
Deadline: The deadline for applications is 18 November 2020
Contact information: Tel: 0161 957 7755 Email: general.enquiries@britishcouncil.org
Website address: www.britishcouncil.org/arts/digital-collaboration-fund