British Council to offer climate action funding to artists, cultural organisations

Islamabad:The British Council has introduced a new programme aimed at supporting cultural organisations and artists in Pakistan, offering grants of up to £15,000 to tackle the climate change crisis and promote sustainable projects and practices in the country.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to encourage climate action by providing funding to artists and cultural organisations across South Asia, including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, according to the British Council. It added that selected grantees would also receive mentorship from UK experts throughout the project.

Pakistan is ranked fifth in the Global Climate Risk Index as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, facing extreme weather events like floods, droughts, and heatwaves, which sev­erely affect agriculture, infrastructure, and public health. According to the British Council, the ‘Climate Futures: South Asia’ programme is now accepting applications.

It aims to support artist-led initiatives that foster knowledge creation and enhance sustainability within the cultural sector by designing and implementing capacity-building measures and improving infrastructure for climate change awareness.

The application deadline is November 25. Successful applicants will have the chance to make a meaningful contribution to the global climate dialogue through their projects. Country Director of British Council Pakistan James Hampson emphasised the importance of the arts in addressing the climate crisis. "Climate Futures: South Asia is an exciting opportunity for artists and cultural organisations to lead the way and drive forward innovative projects that will inspire change," he said. The British Council has planned to hold sessions on October 8 and 22 to assist applicants with the submission process and help them increase their chances of obtaining funding.