British Council
In a world of increasing uncertainty between peoples, and where political one-upmanship often comes before the real needs of a nation, the British Council remains a beacon of hope and tolerance. With their cross-border work in the arts, science, sport and education they seek to nurture understanding through culture and creativity. They have recently launched Creative Collaboration, a partnership in the arts between the UK and South East Europe. We spoke to Rebecca Walton, the council’s Director of Arts.
How do you promote British arts to other countries?
What we’re engaged in is not the promotion of British arts, although our cultural relations adds that particular dimension. We’re involved in an exchange of understanding of other culture, and the arts play an extremely important part in that.
Which countries are you currently working with?
We have priorites such as China, India, Brazil the Middle East, and Russia. ( In December 2007, the Kremlin ordered the British Council to close its two offices outside Moscow, in part of the dispute over the London murder of Russian exile and former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko.)
How are relations now with Russia?
We’re not closed there but our operations have contracted so we just operate out of Moscow. But we’re doing the best we can in that relationship. And the Russians see the arts as a positive force.
Have you come up against any problems in other countries.
There can be a slight nervousness around that space ( of engaging culturally ) it varies in regions from what is allowed and what isn’t. But there is decreasing nervousness.
Does this come from a country’s political regime?
There are changes of perceptions in countries, how political depends on what you’re trying to achieve. For example, we all recognise how important China is and they’re fairly new on the cultural scene, but very keen to promote their culture.
Which countries would you like to work with more extensively?
Russia, Iran, although we do have a presence in Tehran and also in Afghanistan and Zimbabwe but would like to do more there.
How do you set about finding local artists and creating cultural collaborations?
We often work with small ideas, and there’s quite extensive fact finding, to discover what is really of interest to both sides. It’s natural selection. With Creative Collaboration some quite improbable ideas came up. We ran complex open space meetings and brought partners which resulted in the current set of projects
The British Council aren’t political, but you are partly funded by the Government. How much influence does Westminster have over your activities?
We’re 75 years old, and dependent on which party is in Government the conversations can be slightly different, mostly around issues such as national identity.
And what is the British national identity – how do other countries see us?
That we’re proud and confident to be a diverse society.
The British Council’s Words Converge, an installation acting as a mobile poetry library and a celebration of language is part of the Creative Collaboration with poets from the UK, Ireland, Romania, Georgia and Israel.Showing at Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9AG until October 5th.
