Today, the Cultural Bridge programme and its co-investors: Arts Council England, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, British Council, the National Lottery through Creative Scotland, Fonds Soziokultur, Goethe-Institut London and Wales Arts International / Arts Council of Wales, have announced the recipients of its fourth year of funding intercultural UK and German partnerships. 

A total of £360,000 has been awarded to fund the development of 20 partnerships that will share expertise and skills, exchange ideas and collaborate on artistic practices and projects that explore themes and issues faced by communities across both countries.

Following an open call to attend matchmaking sessions in September 2024, Cultural Bridge received over 130 applications, which were assessed and reviewed by an independent jury of professionals from the UK and Germany. A further year of funding is confirmed for 2026 - 2027, and applications will open later this year. 

Funding is awarded across two tiers with up to £10k for new partnerships and up to £30k for existing partnerships. This year’s programme supports twelve new and eight established connections, including six partnerships that will receive continued funding from Cultural Bridge. 

The funding network launched in 2021 and has now supported 49 partnerships through 62 awards. It enables hundreds of artists and practitioners to work with thousands of community members across a range of art forms and themes. 

This year’s funding will support work exploring youth leadership, digital storytelling and emerging technologies, disability-led dance and movement, the intersection of LGBTQI+, neurodivergence and disability, West-African craft and puppetry, circus arts, diaspora communities, music, age inclusion, environmental and climate issues, industrial heritage and more. 

Examples of the 20 funded partnerships include: Bridging Borders: A Collaborative Arts Exchange, a new partnership between Sheba Arts (Salford, England) and Iranisches Kulturfest/Termeh Festival (Munich, Bayern) exploring creative approaches to social issues and challenges faced by female and LGBTQ artists from underrepresented communities in both countries, including Iranian and Afghan diaspora; Missing link, a new partnership between Think Circus (Edinburgh, Scotland) and wheels e.V./Junges Theater (Munster & Berlin) who will come together to exchange and develop practice focussed on socio-cultural theatre and social circus to empower young people; Sick in the City: Investigating Queerness and Disability in Public Urban Space an existing partnership between University of Atypical (Belfast, Northern Ireland) and COVEN BERLIN (Berlin) who will collaborate with communities who are both d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent and from the LGBTQI+ communities; Exploring Flows, an existing partnership between Dyffryn Dyfodol (Wales) and Syndikat Gefährliche Liebschaften (Quakenbrück) who will collaborate on two environmental projects to exchange methods and enable a discourse on socially engaged art in the countryside. 

“Through this partnership, we hope to create a space for sharing and learning from each other's approaches, expanding the scope of work and fostering a hybrid approach for sustainable growth.” Sheba Arts and Iranisches Kulturfest/Termeh Festival on their Tier One partnership, Bridging Borders: A Collaborative Arts Exchange

“University of Atypical and COVEN BERLIN are delighted to have been chosen as one of the 2025-26 Cultural Bridge partnerships. This new partnership programme will grow the relationship by pairing disabled artists from Berlin and Belfast to co-create new work together with d/Deaf, disabled, neurodivergent, and queer communities in both cities. The funding will enable artist residencies, community development workshops, and exciting new arts activities. We are so excited to see how our communities and artists will work together, learn from each other, and how we can imagine new futures for both our cities.” Laura Bradley, University of Atypical and Harley Aussoleil, COVEN BERLIN on their Tier Two partnership, Sick in the City: Investigating Queerness and Disability in Public Urban Space

The 2025 – 2026 partnerships are:

Tier one (new partnerships receiving funding up to £10k):

  • Act Your Age!: Youth Leadership in Art and Activism: Common/Wealth theatre (Bradford, England & Cardiff, Wales) and FUNDUS THEATER / Theatre of Research (Hamburg)
  • Bridging Borders: A Collaborative Arts Exchange: Sheba Arts (Salford, England) and Iranisches Kulturfest/Termeh Festival (Munich, Bayern)
  • Bridging Cultures: Digital Storytelling and Creative Connections for Community Empowerment: Intercultural Roots for Public Health (Coventry, England) and MakingCulture® e.V. (Coburg, Bayern) 
  • Dance Ability Bridge: Dylan Quinn Dance Theatre (Enniskillen, Northern Ireland) and unperform e.V. (Bremen)
  • Everybody needs a puppet: Swallow's Wings Puppetry (London, England) and Dialogus – Kulturelle Vielfalt leben e. V. (Mittweida/Chemnitz, East Germany)
  • Missing link: Think Circus (Edinburgh, Scotland) and wheels e.V./Junges Theater (Munster & Berlin)
  • Sharing Creative Practice: Media Education CIC (Edinburgh, Scotland) and Q3.Quartier für Medien.Bildung (Traunstein, Bayern)
  • Social Circus - Building Bridges: Circusful (Belfast, Northern Ireland) and Coraggio (Berlin)
  • Songs of Neighbours and Strangers: Das Clarks (Newport, Wales) and Cargo-Theater (Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg)
  • Stubborn Optimism: Social Arts Co-Creation and Positive Change in Community Contexts: Bright Shadow CIO (Herne Bay, England) and Raum der Künste e.V. (Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg)
  • The Quiet Room: Disability Arts in Shropshire (Shrewsbury, England) and Berlinklusion GbR (Berlin)
  • Water Chronicles: exploring stories of accessibility in urban water spaces: Surge Coop (Newham, London) and Insola (Berlin)

Tier two (existing partnerships receiving funding up to £30k):

  • Colour Stories. Evolving journeys: the art of flax & linen: Brink! (Belfast, Northern Ireland) and artpark Hoher (Schermbeck, nr Essen) 
  • Exploring Flows: Dyffryn Dyfodol (Wales) and Syndikat Gefährliche Liebschaften (Quakenbrück)
  • North East Moves Inc: TIN Arts ltd (Durham, England) and Perform[d]ance e.V. (Stralsund)
  • Sick in the City: Investigating Queerness and Disability in Public Urban Space: University of Atypical (Belfast, Northern Ireland) and COVEN BERLIN (Berlin)
  • Unlocked: Geese Theatre Company (Birmingham, England) and aufBruch (Berlin)
    (Previous Tier One partners)
  • Utopia writing and film collaboration: Stellar Quines Ltd (Fife, Scotland) and MPower (Berlin)
  • We Dance, We Connect: Anjali Dance Company (Derby, England) and com.dance (Horben)
  • Without Walls: The Mighty Creatives (Leicester, England) and Werkhaus e.V. (Krefeld)

The Cultural Bridge programme funders have said:

"We are delighted to continue our co-investment in Cultural Bridge for a fourth year. The programme has been enormously successful so far, fostering an exciting mix of both new and existing partnerships covering a wide range of community-led creative and cultural projects. We look forward to seeing the benefits that building these vital cross-border connections and sharing of ideas will bring to organisations involved in the programme both here and in Germany.” Simon Mellor, Deputy Chief Executive Arts & Museums, Arts Council England

“The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is delighted to partner with Fonds Soziokultur, Goethe-Institut London and our arts funding colleagues across these islands in the Cultural Bridge programme.  This important initiative offers a valuable opportunity for our artists to engage with their counterparts in the UK and Germany with the aim of using the arts to connect communities, develop shared understanding and facilitate social change through the creation of new, artistic work.  Congratulations to NI organisations Brink!, University of Atypical, Dylan Quinn Dance Theatre and Circusful, and to all those who have received support in the fourth round of funding of this important initiative. We look forward to experiencing these exciting projects as they develop.” Gilly Campbell, Director of Arts Development, Arts Council of Northern Ireland

“At the British Council, we believe in the power of the arts to foster meaningful connections and create lasting social impact. Through Cultural Bridge, we are proud to support partnerships that bring together artists and communities across the UK and Germany to address shared social challenges through creative collaboration. The projects funded this year reflect the diversity and richness of social arts practice, demonstrating how culture can inspire dialogue, inclusion, and innovation in both countries." Helga Stellmacher, Director British Council Germany

“Central to the ethos of the Cultural Bridge initiative is the gift of time, empowering meaningful collaborative international exchange between socially engaged and grassroots arts organisations, fostering lasting connections within local communities.  The programme’s diverse activities and projects will have the freedom to explore new approaches to cultural practice, promote co-creation and community engagement, working together to shape local place, shared identity and collective agency.  We extend our warm congratulations to Scotland-based organisations Stellar Quines, Think Circus and Media Education on their awards and, thanks to our partners' continued support, we’re excited to build on the programme’s successes further enriching the creative and cultural lives of communities in the UK and Germany.” Karen Dick, Creative Scotland’s Head of Place, Partnerships & Communities

“While polarization is a huge challenge in many countries and even worldwide, Cultural Bridge is building an artistic space for dialogue - between very different people and every day life. Fonds Soziokultur is grateful that the collaboration of the seven stakeholders in the UK and Germany is absolutely encouraging, full of respect and productive. The new round of funding with over 130 applications and 20 funded partnerships is mirroring this passion for culture as a bridge to meet each other in a visionary and empowering way. For us it is a rare role model for how funders can build a ground for international understanding that really meets the needs of cultural practitioners and local communities. The programme is developing with every new round. The funded projects show a wide range of arts, communities involved and artistic approaches. They all deal with the question of how we can build a positive, empathetic and respectful society - from Northern Ireland to South of Germany. This cannot be valued enough!" Mechthild Eickhoff, Executive Manager at Fonds Soziokultur

"We are delighted that the Cultural Bridge programme is thriving, fostering meaningful exchange and growth between organisations in the UK and Germany, all rooted in cultural reciprocity. This year's cohort highlights the transformative power of socially engaged practice to enhance lives, and we look forward to seeing the funded projects develop over the coming year. It is also wonderful to see the alumni group growing, with former participants continuing to support and engage with each other. We eagerly anticipate future discussions and events around the emerging themes of the programme." Andrea Pfeil, Interim Director, Goethe-Institut London

“We are so pleased to see the Cultural Bridge programme and funded projects developing and growing with another year of exciting projects and partnerships. It’s great to see Dyffryn Dyfodol build on their existing partnership with Syndikat Gefährliche Liebschaften and receiving tier two funding. We’re also excited to see both Common/Wealth theatre and Das Clarks receiving funding for the first time giving them the opportunity to further develop their relationships and work with partners in Germany.” Dafydd Rhys, Chief Executive of Arts Council Wales 

Image: Anjali Dance and Com.Dance during their Tier One partnership exchange, photographer Marcus Patten