FestivalConnect 2020 is open to festivals in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa. The program builds up connections, exchanges, and showcases contemporary arts between UK and SSA festivals across art forms. British Council FestivalConnect 2020 is a unique environment and make for condensed and intense experiences. The organizer calls all the ambitious and experimental projects fostered through to be a part of it. There must be a partnership between two festivals, one in SSA and one in the UK, but does not necessarily have to take place at both festivals, or it could be programming new art or creative work by young international artists.

Why the British Council FestivalConnect 2020?

Basically, British Council believes that the festivals are vibrant artistic platforms which are meeting points, and a hive of activity for people to network, exchange skills, share ideas, and each other’s art with wide and varied audiences. Across SSA and the UK, British Council engages and work with festivals in different ways; encourage sharing of knowledge, build intelligence on festival models and exchange and offer opportunities to showcase and collaborate across art form and countries. Furthermore, this program provides audiences with fresh content and access to contemporary African and British art and artists. So, the British Council does this through engaging with young festival leadership, support a digital arts residency in partnership with several festivals, and through our FestivalConnect open call.

Streams of British Council FestivalConnect 2020 

Moreover, there are two types of streams that interested can apply

• Festival to Festival: Supporting exchange between Festivals who would benefit from connecting and sharing with each other, creatively and professionally.
• Festival to Artist & Creatives: Supporting festivals to program artists and creatives from SSA and the UK, so more SSA and UK 18-35-year-old’s have access to take part, collaborate and showcase their creative work with audiences of that country.

The British Council invites applicants for Web seminar Session on the following dates for more information

• Webinar 1: 12:00 GMT, 14:00 CAT, 16:00 EAT on 13th December 2019
• Webinar 2: 15th January 2020 (Time to be confirmed)

Who can apply for British Council FestivalConnect 2020?

Basically, candidates and festivals must have the following requirements in order to apply for British Council FestivalConnect 2020

• Proposal value should be between 10,000 – 20,000 GBP (or the equivalent in local currency). In addition to that, proposals must be festival led.
• Similarly, the proposal must have one partner in SSA and one in the UK as well as must address one or more of the expected outcomes.
• A confirmed partnership or booking between festivals, organizations or artists.
• Similarly, if you are proposing to program artists, the artist needs to come from the reciprocating country (ie UK or SSA).
• The activity should take place between May 2020 and May 2021. Similarly, the festivals involved should have presented a minimum of three iterations of its festival.
• The project should attract an 18 and 35 years old audience; the artists programmed must be between 18 and 35 years old
• Open to festivals, biennales, art fairs or large-scale exhibitions.

Eligible countries

Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Botswana, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leonne, Senegal, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales

Applications dates

Application for British Council FestivalConnect 2020 closes on 5th February 12:00hrs GMT 2020.

Click this link for more information.