British Council 2025/26 Connections Through Culture

GRAIN Projects and Pathshala Institute announce a new OPEN CALL.  We are seeking proposals from lens based artists and photographer’s resident in the UK and Bangladesh to make new work that explores the themes of Resistance and Re-imagine, focusing on diversity, inclusion, and/or climate change.

The programme will support two artists and will be a blend of digital and live, featuring online dialogue, support, mentoring, portfolio reviews and meetings with artform curators, gallerists and archivists, a 1 week visit to Bangladesh, hosted by Pathshala and a 1 week visit to the UK hosted by GRAIN.  The opportunity will culminate in new content for exhibition and publishing.

The theme of ‘Resistance’ has transformative possibilities for artists and organisations and symbolises collective hope and creativity through collaboration and resilience.   In our work we aim for environmental renewal, community regeneration and we reimagine collective identity, equality and inclusion.  

The new photography will respond to people and place in challenging times and achieve hope and collectivity, to exchange skills and knowledge and to co-produce artistic content for display and publication. We will provide opportunities during 2026 for the work to be seen in Birmingham, UK and Dahka, Bangladesh, and will publish and distribute the creative content, along with new writing that provides details on the process and themes explored.

The Open Call

We seek to consider a broad range of proposals for this opportunity under the theme of Resistance and Re-imagine, focusing on diversity, inclusion, and/or climate change. We are interested in proposals that are a reflection of our current times, innovative, unique and that consider these themes.   

Who is the opportunity for?
We are looking for one UK based and one Bangladesh based photographer or artist (where photography is part of their practice).  

What will the selected artist receive? 

• Fee  – £2,550 GBP / 409,101.60 BDT, including materials, flight costs, Visa costs and VAT if applicable.
• Accommodation for the trip to the UK / Bangladesh covered 
• A separate budget available for outcomes
• Mentoring and support with professional development.  
• Practical logistics and organisational support will be provided by GRAIN Projects and Pathshala Institute

Key dates and timeline

• Open call deadline: 23rd December 2025
• Selected photographers / artists confirmed by 12th January 2026
• UK photographer / artist to visit Bangladesh April/May 2026
• Bangladesh photographer / artist to visit UK May 2026
• Public outcomes and end of the project September 2026

How to apply, UK based photographers / artists

• Applications should be submitted to GRAIN Projects applications@grainphotographyhub.co.uk Please put OPEN CALL Application in the subject. The application should be submitted as one PDF document.
• Please describe your Proposal including your ideas, the themes you wish to explore, and the people and/or place concerned.   Please explain what interests you about this project and how you feel your experience is relevant.  (No more than 2 sides of A4)
• Please submit a C.V, including website and social media links.
• Submit up to 15 images.
• Please download and complete the Equal Opportunities Form and attach to your application. The form can be downloaded here.

How to apply, Bangladesh based photographers / artists

• Applications should be submitted to Pathshala Institute communication@pathshalainstitute.edu.bd . Please put OPEN CALL Application in the subject. The application should be submitted as one PDF document.
• Please describe your Proposal including your ideas, the themes you wish to explore, and the people and/or place concerned. Please explain what interests you about this project and how you feel your experience is relevant.  (No more than 2 sides of A4)
• Please submit a C.V, including website and social media links.
• Submit up to 15 images.
• Please complete the Equal Opportunities Form and attach to your application. The form can be downloaded here.

Selection process
The Open Call will have a jury involving partners representing GRAIN Projects and Pathshala Institute.

Get in touch
If you have any questions please read the frequently asked questions below or contact hello@grainphotographyhub.co.uk  communication@pathshalainstitute.edu.bd .

Is this opportunity right for me?
You should be able to answer ‘YES’ to all the prompts below;

• My artistic practice is relevant and is photographic, and I can provide evidence of my professional and engaged approach 
• I am confident I can invest sufficient time to meet the expectations of this project
• I am over 18 and not in full time education
• I am able to travel on the dates indicated
• I am based in the UK/ I am based in Bangladesh

Equality, Diversity, Inclusion   
We are committed to addressing equality, diversity and inclusion across all our work and we welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

Why do we collect Equal Opportunities Monitoring data?
We are committed to equal opportunities, with the aim of ensuring that everyone engaging in our programme as an audience member, an artist, or those joining us for employment, receives fair treatment and we positively encourage applications from everybody regardless of age, disability, race, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership and caring status.

About Pathshala Institute
In today’s information-driven world, the role of a teacher extends far beyond simply delivering knowledge. They foster critical thinking, encourage inquiry, and provide students with the tools necessary for self-learning. The Pathshala model exemplifies this approach, drawing from the Asian tradition of a learning space that is not confined by walls, but rather encourages exploration and questioning. This model emphasizes the importance of collaborative learning, where students at various levels can work together and learn from visiting faculty. In the rapidly evolving media landscape, traditional training often fails to meet the demands of the twenty-first century. Many photography schools still rely on outdated methods that do not address the needs of modern audiences, who communicate through a diverse visual language that includes photography, emoticons, and gifs. Pathshala was established in 1998 to address these gaps, shifting the focus to photojournalism and critical thinking. By blending conceptual and classical visual styles, Pathshala prepares students not just as technicians, but as interpreters of culture, equipped to engage with contemporary audiences and the dynamic world of visual storytelling. Pathshala is a centre of photographic excellence with students attending from a wide range of backgrounds. Pathshala co-produce Chorbi Mela, International Festival of Photography, Bangladesh.

About GRAIN Projects
GRAIN Projects is a UK based arts organisation, specialising in socially engaged and collaborative photography. We commission, facilitate and deliver ambitious, engaging and high quality photography projects, commissions, exhibitions, events and publications based on significant themes and issues that affect our world and society. GRAIN is a platform for contemporary photographers and supports their work and development through a range of programmes. We connect with communities in the U.K and internationally to make work that is collaborative and has social impact. GRAIN works to create positive change. Our activities enable people to develop skills and to influence change. We increase participation through high quality projects that explore identities, histories, stories and place and in our work we create a space of care, consideration and community. We believe we have a responsibility to interrogate our collective history and to seek the change necessary to address inequalities. Photography is exceptionally placed to do this. GRAIN is one of the leading exponents of photography in the UK, working with many museums, galleries, festivals and universities. GRAIN celebrates its ten-year anniversary in 2025. GRAIN is a unique and collaborative arts organisation, supported by Arts Council England and Birmingham City Universityis an arts organisation dedicated to commissioning, facilitating and delivering ambitious, engaging and high quality photography projects, commissions, events and exhibitions.  A are a platform for contemporary photography and a hub and network for practitioners, they provide opportunities for artists and audiences and engage with communities here and internationally. Their programme is collaborative and provides new ways to engage with photography for everyone.  www.grainphotographyhub.co.uk

About The British Council 
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. They support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. They do this through their work in arts and culture, education and the English language. They work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 The British Council reached 650 million people. www.britishcouncil.org.bd