‘Connections Through Culture’ grant supports eight Malaysian-British arts projects

A gamelan project, Orang Asli dance preservation, and Malay “kelingkan” embroidery revival are among the eight Malaysian-British collaborations awarded the British Council’s 2024 “Connections Through Culture” grant, fostering cultural ties through creative expression.

This year, the programme expands to South Asia, welcoming Bangladesh and Sri Lanka alongside regional participants and beyond. With over RM4.1mil in funding, it supports artists in fostering dialogue, innovation, and cultural exchange.

In the region, the 2024 grantees span film, tech, literature, visual arts, theatre, dance, design, fashion, craft and music, fostering cross-border collaborations to tackle global issues like diversity and climate change.

“These partnerships celebrate the richness of artistic exchange while tackling some of the most pressing issues of our time. We look forward to seeing the transformative impact of these projects as they come to life,” said Florence Lambert, Head of Arts at the British Council, in a media statement.

“Alunan Dengung: Where Seagrass Meets Electroacoustic Gamelan” is a collaboration between British artistes and Malaysian gamelan group Rhythm In Bronze. It combines field recordings of Malaysia’s seagrass ecosystems with electroacoustic gamelan music, merging art and environmental awareness to spark imagination and action. The performers for this project include Adrian Lee, Sunetra Fernando and Simon Limbrick.

Another standout project, Dancestors, brings together Akademi, a South Asian Dance company based in London and Kuala Lumpur-based indigenous culture outfit Gerimis Art. It connects South Asian and Orang Asli cultures through dance, exploring themes of climate change and social justice.

The revival of traditional crafts is also a key focus of these grants, exemplified by “Heritage Reimagined: Interactive Database and Augmented Reality for Malay Kelingkan and Scottish Tapestry”.

Led by Britain’s Francesca Boyd and Malaysia’s Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation, the project uses Augmented Reality (AR) to blend Malay kelingkan metalwork embroidery with Scottish tapestry. It explores the shared cultural heritage of Malaysia and Scotland, linking nature, landscapes, and traditional textiles.

Elsewhere, “Sync Shorts – Malaysia/UK”, by Britain’s Sync Leadership and Malaysia’s NakSeni, will host an online residency for four learning-disabled and autistic artists from both countries. The programme fosters creativity and leadership, culminating in a hybrid exhibition in Kuala Lumpur this April.

The “Connections Through Culture” grants programme is designed to nurture fresh cultural partnerships between the Asia-Pacific region and Britain.