Today, the Cultural Bridge programme and its co-investors: Arts Council England, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, British Council, the National Lottery through Creative Scotland, Fonds Soziokultur, Goethe-Institut London and Wales Arts International / Arts Council of Wales, have announced continued funding for the development of partnerships between Germany and the UK, until 2027.
The programme launched in 2021 and has supported 35 new and existing partnerships through 42 awards, benefitting 73 organisations and providing opportunities to 591 artists and cultural practitioners across the UK and Germany.
To date, Cultural Bridge has awarded £662,000 in grants and has today confirmed a commitment to two further funding rounds totalling £730,000.
By enabling new and existing connections, Cultural Bridge supports a growing network of organisations committed to sharing expertise and skills, exchanging ideas and collaborating on artistic practices and projects that explore themes and issues faced by communities across both countries.
Funding allows organisations to develop practical, technical and creative skills and has broadened cultural perspectives and the understanding of sameness and difference amongst communities.
The fund supports organisations working across various themes and artforms including youth work, inclusion, health and wellbeing, socio-political, rural and environment-based arts. Examples of previous and current partnerships include:
ENTER: Robots exchange, which brings together learning disabled and neurodivergent dance artists from Cardiff and Bremen to develop a large-scale street theatre performance; Bridging Rural Communities - People, Process, Places, which explores new ways of connecting arts and society with a primary focus on Meppen in Germany and Llanrwst; Feminism and Migrant activism, which explores socially engaged and co-created work with young women from Berlin and Fife; Ode to Earth, that enabled young people from Belfast and Leipzig to explore climate change through collaborative artistic practice; Uncomfortable Dialogues, which aims to unveil marginalised Black experiences through dance, film and storytelling in London and Berlin.
“For some of the learning disabled and neurodivergent artists involved, this will be their first time travelling internationally, a vital opportunity for progression in both their professional aspirations and towards more independent lives.”
Hijinx Theatre and tanzbar-bremen on ENTER: Robots exchange.
“We will explore new ways of connecting arts and society, with the primary aim of getting to know each other, our working methods and practices as well as our context.”
Dyffryn Dyfodol CIC and Syndikat Gefährliche Liebschaften.
“We are thrilled to be part of this announcement confirming two more years of funding for Cultural Bridge allowing more opportunities for artistic collaboration between Wales, the UK and Germany. This project facilitates exciting exchanges of knowledge and experience in socially engaged practices and community work, and it is so positive to see this programme go from strength to strength.”
Dafydd Rhys, CEO Arts Council of Wales.
Applications for the 2025 – 2026 funding round will open in autumn where new partnerships can apply for up to £10,000 and established partnerships can apply for up to £30,000. Organisations interested in applying are encouraged to read the full guidance available now at cultural-bridge.info and register their interest in a matchmaking session if they are seeking a new partnership.
For press enquiries, please contact Lorna Palmer, Cultural Bridge Programme Manager: Lorna.Palmer@artscouncil.org.uk