A total of 30 projects will receive investment from our Re:Imagine India and International Showcasing programmes. Both are new investment streams for the Arts Council, and will foster cultural exchange, whilst presenting English arts projects on a global stage
The investment comes as recent Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) figures showed performing arts exports are the fastest growing across all creative industries in the UK.
Re:Imagine India is run in partnership with ACE and the British Council and the programme helps English artists work with their counterparts in India to exchange ideas, develop partnerships abroad, and export their work. Projects will peak in 2017 to mark the 70th anniversary of Indian independence.
Graham Sheffield, Director Arts British Council said Re:Imagine presents a huge opportunity for British arts organisations to develop new international audiences and present the UK as a vibrant hub of contemporary culture. “With a cultural market of more than 64 million people in urban India, there is a great deal that UK and Indian artists and organisations can learn from each other, and I look forward to seeing both our sectors stronger as a result of these collaborations,” he said.
This first round of funding will enable the development of projects such as New Art Exchange’s consortium of studios across the Midlands to explore connections between Indian and UK artists and communities.
Graeae’s acclaimed production of Ted Hughes’ The Iron Man (pictured) will be the creative catalyst for a training programme for young deaf and disabled artists in India, while the Royal Court will work with Indian Ensemble Theatre on the development of a production and tour of a new play set in Tibet.
