The British Council – the United Kingdom’s organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, invites arts organisations in Uzbekistan to apply for Biennials Connect Grants. Biennials Connect Grants support visual artists’ participation in international festivals and biennials. The grants directly benefit artists by facilitating opportunities for travel, the production of new work, networking, skills building and showcasing through biennial partners. 

Visual arts biennials and festivals in Uzbekistan can apply for grants that will help to grow new partnerships, cross-cultural exchange, creative new work and provide opportunities for showcasing. Apply by 14 September 2025, 23.59 (BST). 

• Dates: Applications open: 23 June 2025 / Application deadline: 14 September 2025, 23.59 (BST) 

• What do beneficiaries get? Applicants can apply for grants of up to £9,500. 
• Requirements: organisations applying have to fulfil the following criteria:

• be a visual arts organisation collaborating with a biennial/festival. 

• be based in Uzbekistan.

• be primarily a visual art biennial or festival. Multi-arts biennials and festivals can apply, but they must demonstrate a focus on visual arts within their programme.

• support artists over the age of 18. If artist travel is included in the project, the artists must be able to travel internationally on valid passports (organisations must arrange travel, transport, accommodations, insurance and visas themselves).

• support artists you have either not previously worked with or supporting new projects with artists you have worked with before.

• share the British Council’s commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and will embed best EDI practices into the activity.

• share the British Council’s commitment to paying artists fairly and will ensure artists are fairly compensated for their participation. 

• Applications by individual artists will not be eligible.

For detailed application guidance, download our application toolkit.

Priority will be given to projects that: foster collaboration between UK-based and international artists, curators, arts organisations and / or festivals and biennials; involve visual artists in the early or mid-stages of their career; are initiated by, or engaging with organisations and artists based in countries which are Official Development Assistance (ODA) recipients. 

Find out more: Biennials Connect Grants | British Council Arts