Project | British Council and UK Cities of Culture

Commissioned by the British Council, this project explores the relationship between the British Council and the UK City of Culture (UKCC) programme, focusing on interrogating the added value provided by the British Council, as event partner focused on building international cultural relations for the UK.

Drawing on a review of policy and strategy documents, as well as interviews with stakeholders at the British Council and the two cities to thus far host the UKCC (Derry and Hull), the project clarified the aspirations, motivations and capacity of the British Council to be a distinct partner for the UKCC programme that can contribute to its long term legacy.

The research has informed a ‘theory of change’ which has been put to British Council staff and stakeholders, alongside an overview of research findings, presented in September 2017.