‘Memorandum of Understanding’ puts relationship on new footing

The British Council and Arts Council England have signed the first operative memorandum of understanding defining areas where the two councils can work together.

A framework has been established in which the two agencies can create and develop programmes together to “maximise the impact of both inbound and outbound showcase activities” the BC said.

They will collaborate on Unlimited, the Cultural Olympiad programme to include disabled artists in hcih the BC will support collaboration between foreign and UK artists, and Points of Culture, a continuation of the BC’s Artists Links Brazil programme, due to end next year but with a view to making new partnerships between Olympic host countries (Rio de Janeiro is to host the 2012 Games). They will also work together on music showcases

Leadership programmes operated by ACE, the Clore Foundation and the BC will host a joint symposium in 2010, and the two councils are together planning a London International Festival Symposium for 2012 as a platform for “a major public conversation on what it means to be an artist in the world today”.

And a Cultural Diplomacy Group has been set up under the MOU to bring together the four UK Arts Councils and Visiting Arts who will meet quarterly to look at how the UK’s culture can be presented on the world stage.