About the programme

Across the program there are few opportunities for professionals to undertake international research free from the immediate demands of presentation or publication. Although geo-political forces are strong, presenting challenges for a programme such as this, the primary aim is to offer selected professionals dedicated periods of research and experimentation within different cultural and geographical contexts.

Key Facts

• Over 220 professinals have received International fellowships
• In over 30 countries around the world
• With 80 different host institutes
• 28% of fellows are from Black minority and ethnic backgrounds
• Partnership funding levers in 40% of the total fellowship budget
• Fellowships range from 8 weeks to 1 year, with an average period of 3 months

Selection

The programme is not open application. Professionals are selected through a peer nomination process organised by a designated co-ordinator for each Fellowship. The Fellowship Co-ordinators are form specialists working for the Council, other agencies or individual experts.

How are hosts selected?

Fellowship Coordinators research potential hosts based on their existing knowledge, consultation with the Council, websites, visits, direct contact with hosts and dialogue with artists and experts engaged with new and experimental practice abroad.

Using special guidance documents, each coordinator facilitates the fellowships within their art form, commencing with initial research into new hosts followed by selection of artists, grant processing, travel and visa arrangements and on-going pastoral support concluding with evaluation.

What is the core purpose of a Fellowship?

Selected professinals are offered fellowships primarily for practice-based research, experimentation and the development of new work in relation to the artistic ethos of international hosts and the cultural contexts of the countries in which they are based.

The programme aims to:

• Push the boundaries of what can be experienced both geographically and artistically
• Encourage and facilitate international exchange between the community in England and overseas
• Build artists’ professional careers through experimentation and collaboration alongside other international artists and within diverse cultures
• Establish new international artistic and funding partnerships, maximising resources and growth
• Put creative process and learning at the centre of the programme
• Continue to develop new relationships with worldwide arts centres exemplary in their field