Eight Malaysian artists among 2025 Connections Through Culture grantees

The British Council has unveiled the recipients of its 2025 Connections Through Culture (CTC) Programme, announcing 127 collaborative projects worldwide, including eight from Malaysia. The initiative continues to strengthen artistic ties between the United Kingdom and international partners, nurturing creativity that transcends borders.

Empowering collaboration and cultural exchange

Now in its latest cycle, the CTC Programme has become a global platform for cultural exchange, uniting artists and institutions to explore pressing issues through innovative mediums. From digital technology and environmental storytelling to community engagement and Indigenous preservation, the selected projects embody the transformative power of art in fostering dialogue and social change.

“Each of the 2025 projects tells a story of artists finding common ground, experimenting, and creating something new together,” said Florence Lambert, Head of Arts at the British Council Malaysia. “These collaborations remind us that the arts thrive on mutual exchange and that when people connect across cultures, they create work that resonates far beyond their own communities.”

With participation now spanning the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and South Asia regions — and Nepal joining for the first time — the programme’s expansion ensures more opportunities for artists to engage in cross-cultural projects that celebrate diversity and explore shared futures.

Eight Malaysian projects lead regional innovation

Malaysia’s eight grantees reflect a dynamic blend of artistic approaches and social engagement. Among them, Malaysia Design Archive and UK artist Rose Nordin collaborate on (A Catalogue of) Documental Monuments, reinterpreting archival materials through the lens of Stuart Hall’s “living archive” and Saidiya Hartman’s speculative fabulation.

In Sabah, Harold Egn and UK partner Take A Part lead Bridging Futures for Skateable Cities, using skate culture and urban regeneration as a lens to envision inclusive civic spaces. Similarly, Forever Sabah and Ecosystem2 explore the human side of climate change through Sabah’s Future Climate Chronicles, merging data science and Indigenous youth storytelling into an interactive digital simulation.

Other notable collaborations include Cipta Seni Incubator: Untold Stories by Sharmilla Ganesan and Tom Curteis, supporting marginalised Malaysian artists through performance and mentorship; Disappearing Voices of the Lotud High Priestesses, preserving endangered ritual poetry in Sabah; and Echoes of Water, which uses music and field recordings to deepen environmental awareness across Malaysia and the UK.

Meanwhile, Impressions Across Borders, a printmaking exchange between Lostgens’ in Kuala Lumpur and C & G Artpartment in Sheffield, explores identity and sustainability through shared artistic dialogue. Rounding off the list, Seasonality of the Anthropocene, a collaboration between Jakob van Klang and Felicia Liu of the University of York, examines shifting environmental patterns through art and activism.

Building global connections

“With its expansion, the programme connects even more voices and communities, strengthening the role of arts in fostering peace, trust, and prosperity across borders,” said Ruth Mackenzie CBE, British Council Director of Arts. “What makes Connections Through Culture so special is the diversity it brings together — different traditions, ideas, and artistic practices converging to create something new.”

This year, the British Council is contributing over GBP 1.1 million (approximately RM6.2 million) globally to empower artists to take creative risks, experiment, and challenge conventions. By investing in such collaborations, the Council continues to affirm its commitment to cultural diplomacy and creative innovation as tools for understanding and cooperation.

For more information about the 2025 Connections Through Culture Programme and the list of grantees, visit https://bit.ly/MYCTC2025.