UK–Nigeria Season of Culture 2028: Expression of Interest for Artists, Creative Businesses, Organisations and Cultural Institutions

The UK–Nigeria Season of Culture 2028 is creating a major platform for artists, creative businesses, cultural organisations and institutions across the United Kingdom and Nigeria to develop new partnerships, exchange ideas and showcase creative work to international audiences. Delivered by the British Council in partnership with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, the Season will run from June to December 2028, with legacy activity continuing into 2029. The programme is designed to strengthen the long-term creative relationship between the UK and Nigeria by creating connections between people, organisations and creative industries in both countries. The initiative is particularly significant because it comes a decade after the landmark 2015/16 UK–Nigeria Season, at a time when Nigeria’s creative economy has expanded considerably and the UK and Nigeria are seeking deeper cultural, commercial and institutional connections.

UK–Nigeria Season of Culture 2028: What Is It About?

The UK–Nigeria Season of Culture 2028 is a bilateral cultural initiative bringing together creative communities from both countries.

The Season aims to celebrate the creativity, diversity and cultural heritage of the UK and Nigeria while creating opportunities for collaboration that can continue long after the 2028 programme ends.

According to the British Council, the Season is intended to:

• Strengthen the creative partnership between the UK and Nigeria.
• Build lasting professional and institutional connections.
• Create opportunities for creative collaboration.
• Open pathways to new markets and audiences.
• Showcase the depth and diversity of UK and Nigerian creative talent.
• Support knowledge exchange between creative professionals and institutions.
• Encourage new artistic commissions and collaborative projects.
• Strengthen creative infrastructure and systems.
• Support longer-term relationships that can continue beyond the Season itself.

The wider bilateral initiative is also expected to contribute to skills development, institutional capacity, market access and international connections across the creative economy.

When Will the UK–Nigeria Season of Culture 2028 Take Place?

The main Season will take place from:

June to December 2028

Legacy activities are expected to continue into 2029, meaning that the programme is intended to have an impact beyond the main 2028 calendar.

However, creative professionals and organisations do not have to wait until 2028 to become involved. The programme is already seeking ideas, partnerships and potential collaborations during the preparation and incubation period.

The British Council has described the period before the Season as an opportunity for partner engagement, visiting delegations and programme incubation, helping potential collaborations develop before activities take place in 2028.

Five Key Focus Areas of the Season

The UK–Nigeria Season of Culture 2028 is organised around five major focus areas. Applicants and potential partners should consider how their proposed idea connects with one or more of these areas.

1. Cultural Heritage, Identity and Infrastructure

This focus area recognises the importance of cultural heritage and identity while considering the infrastructure required for the creative sector to thrive.

Projects could explore cultural heritage, storytelling, identity, preservation, cultural spaces, creative infrastructure and related issues.

The emphasis is not simply on presenting culture, but also on strengthening the systems and structures that enable cultural and creative activity to develop sustainably.

2. Market Access and Mutual Growth

The Season also aims to create stronger connections between creative industries and markets in both countries.

This focus area is relevant to organisations, entrepreneurs and creative professionals seeking opportunities to:

• Reach new audiences.
• Build international networks.
• Develop commercial partnerships.
• Expand into new markets.
• Connect with buyers, investors or industry professionals.
• Strengthen the international visibility of their creative work or business.

The broader UK–Nigeria creative partnership has also identified international market access and structured engagement as important areas for strengthening the creative economy.

3. Creative Collaboration and Partnerships

Partnership is at the heart of the Season.

The programme is interested in ideas that bring together people, organisations and institutions from the UK and Nigeria to develop meaningful creative collaborations.

A proposed project does not necessarily need to be completely developed before an expression of interest is submitted. The opportunity specifically welcomes both developed project concepts and early-stage ideas.

If you already have a potential partner in the other country, you can indicate this in your response. If you do not yet have a partner, you can still express your interest and describe the type of collaboration you would like to develop.

4. New Artistic Commissions

The Season will also provide a platform for new creative and artistic work.

This could create possibilities for artists and creative organisations to propose original projects, productions, performances, commissions or other forms of creative activity that contribute to the UK–Nigeria cultural relationship.

The emphasis is on developing ideas capable of creating meaningful artistic and cultural value for audiences in both countries.

5. Research, Policy and Knowledge Exchange

The Season is not limited to performances and exhibitions.

Research, policy discussions, professional learning and knowledge exchange are also part of its vision.

This focus area can be particularly relevant to institutions, researchers, cultural policy professionals, academics, practitioners and organisations working on issues affecting the creative and cultural sectors.

It recognises that long-term creative development requires not only artistic activity but also research, evidence, policy development, institutional learning and the exchange of knowledge between countries.

Which Artforms and Creative Disciplines Are Eligible?

One of the notable features of the UK–Nigeria Season of Culture 2028 is its broad approach to creative disciplines.

The Season is open to all artforms and creative disciplines, rather than restricting participation to a single artistic field.

Potential areas include:

• Music
• Film
• Visual arts
• Fashion
• Literature
• Digital creativity
• Performing arts
• Theatre
• Dance
• Architecture
• Gaming
• Gastronomy
• Craft
• Creative technology
• Other creative and cultural disciplines

This broad scope means that the opportunity may be relevant to both traditional and emerging areas of the creative economy.

The British Council’s wider arts work in Nigeria similarly spans areas including architecture, design, fashion, film, literature, music, theatre, dance and visual arts.

Who Is Being Invited to Get Involved?

The opportunity is aimed at people and organisations within the cultural and creative sectors of both the UK and Nigeria.

The invitation specifically mentions:

• Artists
• Creative businesses
• Cultural organisations
• Cultural institutions
• Creative-sector organisations
• Other relevant institutions and creative practitioners

The British Council is looking for people and organisations with an idea for a project, partnership or collaboration that could contribute to the UK–Nigeria Season of Culture 2028.

You do not necessarily need to have a fully developed project.

The programme welcomes:

• Fully formed project proposals.
• Early-stage creative ideas.
• Potential partnerships.
• Collaboration concepts.
• Ideas that could be developed with a partner in the other country.

This makes the expression of interest particularly useful for creative professionals who have a strong concept but may still be exploring how to develop it internationally.

Important: This Is Not a Funding Application

One of the most important points for anyone considering submitting an expression of interest is that this stage is not a funding application.

The purpose of the current Expression of Interest is to:

1. Gather creative ideas.
2. Identify potential partners.
3. Understand what the creative sectors in the UK and Nigeria would like to develop.
4. Start conversations between potential collaborators.
5. Explore projects that could form part of the wider Season.
6. Help shape future programme development.

Therefore, applicants should not approach the EOI as though they are applying for a conventional grant.

Instead, the focus should be on clearly communicating who you are, what you would like to do, how your idea connects to the Season and whether you already have a partner in the other country.

What Should You Include in Your Expression of Interest?

The response should be no more than two pages.

It should cover four essential areas:

1. Who You Are

Introduce yourself, your organisation, institution, creative business or relevant professional background.

Explain your role within the cultural or creative sector and provide enough information for the organisers to understand your experience and relevance to the proposed idea.

2. What You Would Like to Do

Describe your project, partnership or collaboration idea.

This does not have to be a fully developed proposal. If the concept is still at an early stage, explain the idea clearly and describe what you hope to develop.

3. Which Focus Area Your Idea Fits

Explain which of the Season’s five focus areas your idea relates to:

• Cultural heritage, identity and infrastructure
• Market access and mutual growth
• Creative collaboration and partnerships
• New artistic commissions
• Research, policy and knowledge exchange

If your project connects with more than one focus area, you can explain those connections.

4. Whether You Have a Partner in the Other Country

State whether you already have a UK or Nigerian partner.

For example, a Nigerian creative organisation could identify a UK institution it already works with, while a UK artist could describe an existing relationship with a Nigerian creative organisation.

If you do not yet have a partner, explain the type of partner or collaboration you would like to develop.

How to Submit Your Expression of Interest

The Expression of Interest should be submitted by email to:UKNigeria.SeasonofCulture@britishcouncil.org

The response should be two pages or fewer and should address the requested information.

The stated deadline is:

14 September 2026

This deadline is important for anyone intending to have their idea considered as part of the current expression-of-interest process.

For official information and updates, visit the https://www.britishcouncil.org.ng/programmes/arts/uk-nigeria-season-culture-2028

Online Information Sessions for Interested Applicants

Two online sessions are being held to help potential participants understand the Expression of Interest process, the Season and what is expected in a response.

Session 1

Date: Monday, 17 August 2026
Time: 11:00 WAT

Session 2

Date: Monday, 7 September 2026
Time: 11:00 WAT

Both sessions cover the same information, so participants can attend one or both.

If you have questions before attending the sessions, you can contact the Season team by email at:UKNigeria.SeasonofCulture@britishcouncil.org

Why Should Creative Professionals Consider Getting Involved?

The UK–Nigeria Season of Culture 2028 presents an opportunity to engage with a major bilateral cultural initiative at an early stage.

For creative professionals and organisations, early involvement can be particularly valuable because the current process is designed to identify ideas and potential partners before the main Season takes place.

Potential areas of value include:

• Developing UK–Nigeria creative partnerships.
• Building international professional networks.
• Exploring new audiences and markets.
• Developing collaborative creative projects.
• Connecting creative institutions across both countries.
• Contributing ideas to a major international cultural programme.
• Exploring new artistic commissions.
• Sharing knowledge and expertise.
• Strengthening international visibility.
• Building relationships that may continue beyond 2028.

The broader bilateral programme is intended to establish lasting partnerships rather than relationships that end when the Season closes. The British Council has highlighted institutional partnerships, skills development, market access and sustainable creative connections as important elements of the wider initiative.

A Major Opportunity for the UK and Nigerian Creative Economies

The Season arrives at an important period for creative industries in both countries.

Nigeria has developed one of Africa’s most internationally visible creative economies, while the UK has a well-established global creative sector spanning music, film, fashion, theatre, literature, design, gaming and other industries.

The Season provides a structured platform for these ecosystems to connect.

Rather than treating cultural exchange simply as a series of performances or exhibitions, the initiative takes a broader approach that includes creative enterprise, partnerships, infrastructure, policy, research, skills and international market access.

The British Council has also described the 2028 Season as part of a wider effort to strengthen creative systems and production infrastructure, develop skills and leadership, improve access to international markets and create lasting relationships between UK and Nigerian creative institutions.

What Happened During the Previous UK–Nigeria Season?

The 2028 programme builds on the earlier UK–Nigeria Season, which ran from September 2015 to March 2017.

The previous Season demonstrated the potential scale of UK–Nigeria cultural collaboration.

According to the British Council, the 2015/16 Season:

• Covered nine artforms.
• Delivered 31 projects.
• Involved 79 partner organisations.
• Reached 12 cities.
• Attracted more than 446,000 attendees to live events.
• Trained 7,135 artists.

The new Season therefore represents a return to a successful model of cultural exchange, while responding to the significant growth and transformation of the creative sector over the intervening decade.

What Makes the 2028 Season Different?

The creative environment in which the 2028 Season is being developed is significantly different from that of the previous Season.

Digital technology, international streaming, gaming, creative entrepreneurship, social media, emerging technologies and rapidly changing global markets have transformed how artists and creative businesses reach audiences.

The 2028 Season is therefore positioned not only as a celebration of culture but also as a platform for developing stronger creative systems and international relationships.

The British Council has identified areas such as emerging technology, creative infrastructure, professional skills, leadership, international markets and institutional partnerships as part of the wider UK–Nigeria creative collaboration agenda.

Tips for Preparing a Strong Expression of Interest

Although the EOI is limited to two pages, applicants should make every sentence count.

Keep the idea clear

Avoid filling the document with unnecessary background information. Clearly explain what you want to do and why it matters.

Explain the UK–Nigeria connection

Since this is a bilateral Season, make the connection between the two countries clear.

Explain how the project could create meaningful collaboration between Nigerian and UK creative communities, institutions, businesses or audiences.

Connect the idea to a focus area

Do not simply name one of the five focus areas. Explain why your idea belongs there.

Be realistic

If your project is still at an early stage, say so. The EOI specifically welcomes early ideas, so there is no need to present an undeveloped concept as though it is already fully formed.

Highlight your experience

Briefly demonstrate why you or your organisation are well positioned to develop the idea.

Relevant previous projects, partnerships, creative work, audiences or institutional experience can help provide context.

Explain your partnership status

Clearly state whether you already have a partner in the UK or Nigeria.

If you do not, explain what type of partner you would like to work with.

Stay within the two-page limit

The request is for a response of two pages or fewer, so concise and structured communication is important.

Who Can Apply or Express Interest?

The opportunity is intended for the cultural and creative sectors in the United Kingdom and Nigeria.

Potential participants include:

• Individual artists.
• Creative businesses.
• Cultural organisations.
• Cultural institutions.
• Creative-sector organisations.
• Other relevant organisations or practitioners with suitable project or collaboration ideas.

There is no specific race or ethnicity requirement stated in the information provided for this Expression of Interest.

The opportunity is geographically centred on the UK and Nigeria, rather than being presented as a general worldwide opportunity for applicants from every country.

Importantly, eligibility is described in terms of participation in the UK or Nigerian cultural and creative sectors. Therefore, prospective participants should focus on demonstrating their connection to the relevant creative sector and explaining how their proposed idea contributes to UK–Nigeria collaboration.

Is This a Grant or Scholarship?

No.

The current Expression of Interest is explicitly not a funding application. It is a process for gathering ideas, identifying partners and initiating conversations about potential projects for the Season.

Participants should therefore not assume that submitting an EOI automatically provides funding, a grant, a scholarship, employment or another financial award.

Any future project development or support arrangements would depend on subsequent discussions and the programme’s development.

Key Details at a Glance

Opportunity: UK–Nigeria Season of Culture 2028 – Expression of Interest
Main Season: June–December 2028
Legacy activity: Through 2029
Countries: United Kingdom and Nigeria
Creative disciplines: All artforms and creative disciplines
Who can express interest: Artists, organisations, institutions and creative businesses in the UK and Nigeria
Maximum response length: Two pages
Submission method: Email
Submission email: UKNigeria.SeasonofCulture@britishcouncil.org
Deadline: 14 September 2026
Application type: Expression of Interest, not a funding application
Organisers: British Council and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy

How to Find More Information

Those interested in participating should consult the official British Council information and follow any updates to the Expression of Interest process.https://www.britishcouncil.org.ng/uknigeria-2015-16-impact-report

More opportunities here, https://opportunitiesforyouth.org