Following our open call in November 2017, we are thrilled to announce that six UK organisations working in architecture, design, fashion and craft have been selected to undertake research in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2018.

Each organisation has appointed internally the researcher that will be travelling, on their behalf, to Sub-Saharan Africa.

• London College of Fashion / UAL - Alison Moloney
• London College of Fashion / UAL - Cher Potter
• London Festival or Architecture - Owen Wainhouse
• Royal Academy of Arts - Kate Goodwin
• Stanley Picker Gallery / Kingston University – Yemi Awosile
• Victoria and Albert Museum - Anna Landreth Strong

The research will be made possible by six individual 'Art Connects Us' research grants of £2,500 (each) to proposals put forward by UK organisations operating across these different design disciplines, with an aim to increase the connections and understanding between the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) design sectors. This opportunity aims to:

• Facilitate the UK design sectors' ambitions to connect with young African creatives (18-35);
• Increase the opportunities for UK partners to visit African cities and gain further insight into the local creative sector;
• Encourage and support the development of networks that connect the UK and SSA creative sectors;
• Widen the opportunities for SSA creatives to connect with UK organisations.

Art Connects Us

Art Connects Us is the British Council Sub-Saharan Africa strategy that supports our vision to develop stronger creative sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa that are better connected to the UK. Through commissioning research, new work and programmes we will enable the UK to hear clearly the voices of young Africans creatives. We work through our partners in the creative sectors of the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa to ultimately grow and strengthen the following:

Art, audiences and innovation - Sharing the best of arts and culture in the UK and SSA will be at the heart of our agenda. We will be a catalyst for partners working to bring new art to audiences. 

Skills and networking - We will continually strive to stretch audiences for the arts through developing new networks and skills for our partners. 

Brokering and communication
 - We will help communicate the work of the creative sectors where we work enabling artists and audiences to connect with each other.