The British Council has announced the winners of the "Connections Through Culture" (CTC) grant programme, aimed at fostering strong partnerships and collaborations between artists from the UK and the Asia-Pacific region. As part of this programme, four joint projects between Bangladesh and the UK will receive grants. Overall, it will support 84 innovative initiatives.

The grant programme marks a significant milestone this year with the inclusion of artists from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, alongside those from Australia, New Zealand, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

The projects from Bangladesh that will receive funding are: "Tiger Widow" by Ergon Theatre (England) and YouthNet Global (Bangladesh); "Idrish" by Adam Lewis Jacob (Scotland) and Drik (Bangladesh), "Neel Akash" (Blue Sky) by Sampad (England) and Anandita Khan (Bangladesh), "The Story of Maya: Genesis" (The Making of The Story of Maya) by Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (England) and Neel Kamrul (Bangladesh).

A total of over Tk 11 crore will be awarded in grants across the Asia-Pacific region through the CTC grant programme, with over Tk 60 lakh specifically allocated to the projects led by Bangladeshi participants. This funding will help artists and cultural organisations bring their creative visions to life.

Among the projects receiving grants in 2024 are initiatives from various fields, including film, creative technology, literature, visual arts, theatre, dance, design, fashion, crafts, and music. These diverse and multifaceted projects are expected to generate new ideas that will address global challenges, such as diversity and inclusion, as well as climate change.

Speaking on the occasion, Sadia Rahman, head of Arts at the British Council Bangladesh, said, "We are thrilled to announce the winners of the 2024 grant program. Their projects will open new doors for intercultural collaboration."

She added, "These partnerships will enrich the exchange of artistic and creative minds while also contributing to addressing critical challenges of our time. We are hopeful that the implementation of these projects will bring about positive change in society."