• A landmark programme that marks India’s 75^th anniversary and celebrates the bilateral relationship between the two nations
• Digital innovation and inclusion take centerstage as 1,400+ artists from India-UK showcase their collaborations in dance, music, theatre, poetry, literature, visual arts and creative technology
• Academy and Grammy award winning composer A. R. Rahman announced as the Season Ambassador

New Delhi/ London, 08 June 2022: British Council, the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations today announced the India/UK Together Season of Culture, a celebration of the long-standing relationship between the UK and India. The Season of Culture that marks India’s 75^th anniversary, has been officially launched by Barbara Wickham OBE, Director India, British Council from the iconic British Council building – a vibrant cultural epicentre in the heart of the national capital.

The Season of Culture aims to build on the British Council’s work in India and strengthen India-UK collaboration in the areas of Arts, English and Education. The Season of Culture will enable collaborations between emerging artists and arts organisations from both nations, acting as a platform for greater artistic exchange, global opportunities and exposure.

The Season collaborations across art forms will foster creative expression and will be distinguished by the use of digital innovation in the arts. In addition to mesmerising the audiences through art, the thought-provoking collaborations will also have inclusion and diversity principles deeply embedded.

‘Access For All’ is the Season of Culture equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) advisor.

Over 1,400 artists will showcase their collaborations to millions of audiences across India, Britain, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, through a wide array or arts such as theatre, dance, visual arts, literature, music, architecture, design, fashion, tech-art, and new media art.

Culture is a strong unifying theme and a key pillar of the India-UK bilateral relationship, underlined in the recently signed ‘UK-India Roadmap 2030’ to elevate bilateral ties and enhance collaboration to support the development of the creative economies of both nations.

Season ambassador

Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, A. R. Rahman, who has won global awards and the hearts of millions of fans across the world for his compositions, has been announced as the India/UK Together Season of Culture ambassador.

Barbara Wickham OBE, Director India, British Council, said, “India/UK Together, a Season of Culture marks the deep connections between our nations and the 75th anniversary of India. The creative collaborations of emerging Indian and UK artists and arts organisations will juxtapose art with social dialogue, exploring shared global challenges such as environmental sustainability, inclusion, gender equality and accessibility, and empowering young leaders of the future through the arts. People in both countries will have the chance to experience innovative and exciting creative work from some of the most promising UK and Indian artists pushing the envelope of creativity and the infusion of creative tech.”

“We are excited to have the globally acclaimed A R Rahman as our Season Ambassador. He has been a significant adviser to the Season of Culture and his work and professional journey truly embody what the Season of Culture stands for – working together, and artistic output that captures the imagination of the world,” she added.

Speaking on the association with the Season of Culture, Amish Tripathi, Minister (Culture), Indian High Commission, UK & Director, Nehru Centre, London, said, “With a burgeoning economic relationship, closely aligned governments, and a living bridge in terms of the Indian diaspora in the UK, the sky is the limit for the partnership between India and the UK. My compliments to the British Council for driving the India/UK Together Season of Culture. The Nehru Centre London, under the leadership of ICCR & the High Commission of India to the UK, is very proud to partner in this very important initiative.”

Speaking on his association with the Season of Culture, Grammy and Academy Award-winning composer A.R. Rahman said, “I am honoured to be the Ambassador for British Council’s India/UK Together, a Season of Culture, and to celebrate the strong friendship between our two countries. Today, creative expression and exchange can nurture young talent and create a global stage for fair and equitable access to arts. As an artist, it is a pleasure to be part of an innovative cultural programme which supports creative excellence and artistic appreciation; and brings diverse audiences together.”

Education and English initiatives

Education is a strong pillar of the India-UK bilateral relationship. The Season of Culture will also enable greater access and opportunities for the young people in both countries via collaborations in the space of Education and English.

The British Council is hosting the largest delegation of UK higher education sector leaders to India to work with Indian higher education sector stakeholders to achieve the vision of India’s NEP.

British Council’s initiatives in English will have Literature as a key unifying factor, bringing young people from India and the UK ‘Together’ through multiple author exchanges enabling a varied audience get access to Indian and UK authors who have impacted education through their writing. The English initiatives will also include inter-school collaborative story-writing projects for India-UK government and private schools; as well as Open Access Courses that will focus on a genre-based approach to teaching English using literature.

Scholarships have also been announced for English teachers from India to complete a Master’s degree in English from a UK university. There will be focus on language teaching with an emphasis on the use of educational technologies.