Moving Narratives: Bridging UK and the Philippines through art

Fostering new connections for social impact

The British Council, United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, welcomed the international Moving Narratives cohort to the Philippines for the first time, marking a milestone in cross-cultural collaboration and artistic exchange.

The organization hosted an artist mixer and roundtable discussion in Makati City, bringing together over 50 Filipino artists, cultural practitioners, alongside the global delegates from the Moving Narratives programme. The gathering provided an inspiring platform for participants to explore pressing social issues, share creative insights, and establish new connections that could spark long-lasting collaborative partnerships.

Moving Narratives: Empowering artists for global social change

Moving Narratives, a mentorship initiative by the British Council and the Prince Claus Fund, brings together mid-career artists and cultural practitioners from around the world annually. The program provides a dynamic space for exploring new perspectives and building artistic networks to address social challenges, creating a ripple effect of change through each participant’s work.

“This gathering shows our commitment to cross-cultural exchange. It’s a unique opportunity for both local and international artists to share experiences and insights, building mutual understanding around some of today’s most urgent global challenges,” emphasized by Andrei Nikolai Pamintuan, head of Arts at the British Council.

Held last 22 October, the artist mixer celebrated the diversity and vibrancy of Philippine art while offering an opportunity for local and international artists to connect, fostering dialogues on the role of intercultural partnerships in amplifying powerful narratives and tackling social issues.

Artists’ roundtable: Building shared advocacy and inclusion across borders

On 23 October, 16 artists representing a spectrum of artistic disciplines gathered for an impactful roundtable discussion led by Pamintuan and Jonathan Morley, Relationships Manager at the British Council. Topics ranged from censorship and regional representation to labour rights and the need to support artists as integral members of the workforce.

Participants expressed the critical importance of partnerships with labour rights organizations to ensure fair wages and benefits and advocated for empowering regional artists by decentralising the arts from Metro Manila, thereby amplifying diverse voices across the Philippines.

Reflecting on the connections formed during the event, Morley shared, “It’s a privilege to be able to travel and to meet with representatives of an artistic community, however fleetingly, whilst travelling. Our Arts Team in the Philippines had invited an impressive cross-section of the Manileño arts scene to a roundtable conversation on the Culture Responds programme themes, which view arts and culture as fundamental aspects of international development. It was a distinctly collective conversation, which opened up new perspectives for me on how issues like cultural diversity and minority rights are understood locally. Salamat po to everyone who attended!”

British Council: Bridging artistic vision and social advocacy

Through initiatives like Moving Narratives, the British Council champions artists, cultural practitioners and organisations as agents of change. This programme supports diverse voices that address critical global themes, including cultural heritage, creative climate action, diversity, gender equality and disability arts. It highlights the role of the arts in creating strong connections across borders, encouraging an exchange of ideas that benefit communities worldwide.

The British Council continues to build cultural ties and foster meaningful connections between the UK and the Philippines through grants, partnerships, and initiatives such as Moving Narratives. These efforts mark a pivotal step towards nurturing a global arts community committed to social impact.