Applications open for Climate Futures – South Asia

Climate Futures: South Asia will support climate action in the creative industries. The new programme is supporting the arts sector through grants, mentorship, research, and knowledge exchanges between the UK and South Asia. The programme will support artists and cultural organisations to develop impactful responses to the climate emergency.

The grants aim to empower the arts community to contribute to climate action and sustainability through innovative and impactful projects. They are seeking proposals which respond to one or more of the points below:

• Support artist-led initiatives that promote knowledge creation and sustainability in the cultural sector,
• Design and implement a sustainability strategy or process for your organisation including capacity building initiatives and,
• Optimize infrastructure to enhance climate change awareness and sustainable approaches within the arts sector.

Funding Information

• Grants of £15,000 available.
• These grants are open to artists, cultural organisations, arts venues, festivals and cultural hubs based in South Asia.

Eligible Projects

• Artist-led initiatives that promote knowledge creation and sustainability in the cultural sector:
  • Visual Arts installations that raise awareness about communities impacted by climate change and inspire a call to action.
  • Literature/publications featuring thought leadership, insight pieces, innovative research on the impact of climate change.
  • Digital platforms/toolkits promoting sustainability in the cultural sector that can be replicated across the arts landscape.
  • Projects centred around the circular economy.
  • Projects that use the arts as a catalyst for creating knowledge and exploring solutions for climate change in an innovative way.
  • Exhibitions, Roundtable conferences, Hackathons, Research activities that explore a particular theme addressing climate change.
• Designing and implementing a sustainability strategy or process for your organisation including capacity building initiatives:
  • Conducting carbon emissions audits for your creative enterprise
  • Training and capacity building for your employees in sustainability or climate sensitivity
  • Developing carbon measurement frameworks, recycling schemes
• Optimising infrastructure to enhance climate change awareness and sustainable approaches within the arts sector:
  • Developing green spaces in your venues to raise awareness about climate change and make an impact on your target communities.
  • Dissemination of toolkits and resources relevant to the optimisation of infrastructure in your venues.
  • Implementation of sustainability practices or reimagining spaces at one off events like festivals or performing arts venues.
  • Architectural inputs that demonstrate innovative approaches to incorporating sustainability in your venues.

Eligibility Criteria

• You are applying as an artist or cultural organisation performing arts venue festival cultural hub other arts and culture space based in ANY ONE of the listed South Asia countries (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka).
• Project proposals should have a timeline ending no later than 31 January 2026. In cases where a particular process system is being developed as part of the project, please note that all activity funded by the British Council must end by January 2026. You will be required to submit a project report at the end of the project delivery timeline.
• Funding bodies are not eligible.
• Projects can range from artist-led knowledge creation, installations, circular economy projects, toolkits, research activities, exhibitions, publications, webinars, and roundtable conferences. You may also use the grant for architectural inputs and infrastructural changes or for developing decarburization strategies for your team. They also do welcome proposals that address sustainability practices in one-off events for eg: festivals and large-scale performances. Projects or ideas in the research and development stage are also welcome.

Assessment Criteria

• All applications will be evaluated by the British Council based on the following criteria and weighting:
  • Quality & Impact – The project proposal is of a high quality, is innovative in its approach and shows that the proposed ideas are impactful and have a positive outcome on the arts community.
  • Project feasibility- The proposed interventions are practical and have the potential to be scaled up or replicated in other areas. The proposed ideas show that the project has the potential to continue beyond the period of funding.
  • Management – The project plan is realistic with clear timelines and milestones. The team is well-experienced and has track record of working in this field. Robust mechanisms for tracking progress and measuring outcomes are in place.
  • Environmental sustainability, Diversity and Inclusion – The project proposal addresses environmental challenges, equality, diversity and inclusion.

For more information, visit British Council.