The Connections Through Culture grants are instrumental in supporting new ideas and collaborations from artists and cultural organisations at any stage of development.
The grants supported in this round of the Connections Through Culture programme have focused on two distinct areas:
- diversity and inclusion
- addressing climate change.
The collaborative efforts across borders and artistic disciplines will lead to new thoughts and ideas created to address global challenges.
The grants support new connections, exchanges, and collaborations. They help to build long-term relationships and collaborations between artists, cultural professionals, creative practitioners and art and cultural organisations, hubs, networks, and collectives.
Check out the grantees connecting Scotland and Asia Pacific:
Global First Nations RISE Festival R&D
Scotland and Australia
This partnership between Dance North Scotland, BlakDance (Australia's national organisation for First Nation contemporary dancers and choreographers), and Māori dance artist Paige Shand aims to develop a co-curated Global First Nations contemporary dance festival. The exchange will culminate at Dance North's 2026 RISE Festival, celebrating Indigenous artistry and fostering meaningful cultural connections through contemporary dance.
Idrish
Scotland and Bangladesh
A collaboration between Scotland-based Adam Lewis Jacob (UK) and Drik (Bangladesh), Idrish is an anti-deportation activism film blending archive VHS footage, animation, and printed ephemera. The animation tells the story of Idrish, exploring identity, heritage, and protest in the context of urgent social issues. Filmed in Bangladesh and Birmingham, this project offers a poignant and timely narrative on displacement and resistance.
Extraction Echoes – Art, Empathy and Non-Human Narratives
Scotland and Indonesia
This powerful collaboration between Videocity (UK) and Forum Sudutpandang (Indonesia) brings together video artists from both countries to explore the environmental impact of extraction and mining practices. Through a digital exchange and travelling video art exhibition, the project seeks to foster empathy and highlight the interconnectedness of humans and the environment, engaging with both human and non-human perspectives to inspire deeper reflection and action.
Bali-Glasgow Filmmaker and Programme Exchange
Scotland and Indonesia
A collaboration between the Glasgow Short Film Festival (UK) and Yayasan Kino Media (Minikino) (Indonesia) that will foster a creative dialogue on environmental sustainability, social change, and empowerment through short films, residencies, workshops, and festivals. The project aims to build stronger, long-term partnerships that drive meaningful social impact in Scotland and Indonesia by addressing community challenges and promoting inclusion.
North to South: Stories, Songs and (Reclaimed) Voices to Save the Land
Scotland and Aotearoa, New Zealand
A creative partnership between Roseanne Watt, a poet from Shetland (UK), and a Te Moana-nui-a-kiwa an artist from Aotearoa (New Zealand) the project will delve into the vital themes of indigenous language revitalisation, homecoming, and the sharing of traditional knowledge to combat the climate crisis. The project will culminate in a powerful showcase at the Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tāmaki 2025, amplifying these urgent and resonant voices.
Oceania Archival Residency
Scotland and Aotearoa, New Zealand
Artist Cora-Allan Lafaiki Twiss's will explore of hiapo (Niuean tapa) and other Pacific cultural treasures in Scottish museum collections. During her residency, Cora-Allan will research taoga at the Hunterian Museum, National Museum of Scotland, and more, bringing attention to these objects' rich history and significance. The findings will be showcased in Glasgow, coinciding with the Edinburgh Arts Festival, offering a unique dialogue and cultural exchange platform.
Shame Parade
Scotland and Philippines
A collaboration between Angel Cohn Castle (UK) and Ken Santos (Philippines), this project brings performance, film, and music together to explore the legacy of charivari, a medieval tradition of public shaming. From its European roots to its surprising continuation in the Philippines through noise restriction laws. Shame Parade offers a compelling look at how history shapes modern culture.
INDIGO FLOW
Scotland and Thailand
A collaboration Laura Darling (UK) and Oak Chakrapan Suwanphanich (Thailand) brings the story of Natong, a hidden village in Phrae Province, to life. Through a bilingual animated video and graphic novel, the project showcases Natong's harmony with nature, sustainable practices, and cultural richness—offering lessons from traditional knowledge to inspire environmental stewardship.