BRITISH COUNCIL SEASONS

A major new cultural exchange between Australia and the UK has been previewed today, celebrating the diverse and innovative artists and cultural sectors of each nation.

The UK/Australia Season 2021–22 (The Season) is a collaboration between the British Council and the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen. The Season is a unique artistic programme of more than 200 live and digital events, marking the largest-ever cultural exchange between Australia and the UK.

The programme has been directed by Michael Napthali of the Australian High Commission in the UK and by Helen Salmon of the British Council in Australia.

The theme of the Season is ‘Who Are We Now?’ and will reflect on the shared history and current relationship, while imagining the future of the two nations.

Managing Climate Change Adaptation at the Coast through More than Maps focuses on disseminating the knowledge and methods developed through climate change adaptation research taking place across the University of Southampton, The University of Western Australia, The University of Sydney, University of Ghana and Mona GeoInformatics. This workshop series focuses on coastal research from these institutions on monitoring and mapping landscapes and seascapes in Pacific Island Countries, and identifying opportunities for transformational adaptation that can be generated through the management and re-use of the invasive Sargassum seaweed increasingly found across the tropical Atlantic. The workshops aim to provide young people with the knowledge and skills to meaningfully engage in climate change adaptation policy discourse using evidence-based approaches.  

 

Launching in September 2021, the Season will strengthen and build cultural connections. It will include a diverse programme spanning theatre, film, visual arts, dance, design, architecture, music, literature, higher education and a public engagement programme.

Spanning all artforms, the programme will include multiple cross-arts commissions, and there will be several world, UK and Australian premiers. The programme will be a celebration of the diversity of cultures and languages in both countries. It will feature Australia’s First Nations voices, include cultural contributions from across the UK, as well as celebrate the richly diverse society that has emerged in both the UK and Australia through migration.

‘Australia in the UK’ will take place in the UK from September 2021 to December 2022, and ‘UK in Australia’ from September 2021 to March 2022.

Details are available from the new Season website, with the full website and programme in both countries to be announced in August 2021.

 

More than Maps is supported by the British Council and the Australian Government as part of the UK/Australia Season.