The British Council and V&A East are launching two new Fellowships, with a focus on Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. The Fellowships will fund creative practitioners to carry out fieldwork research in Pakistan, Nepal, or Bangladesh, research with the V&A Collections at V&A East Storehouse in London, and the production of a new commissioned work, to appear alongside other commissioned works as a part of V&A East’s commission series South Asia Everywhere.
The inaugural V&A East x The British Council Fellowships will begin in Summer 2026, culminating in a commissioned work on display in June through Autumn 2027.
South Asia Everywhere is the seasonal theme at V&A East launching in June 2027, which will inform our programming for new displays, commissions, and live programme. The theme seeks to explore the various ways South Asia has global reach and is entwined in different localities around the world.
We are looking to commission new work that can illustrate specific instances of exchange between South Asian countries and other countries, regions, cities, beyond South Asia. In particular, we’re interested in global exchanges rooted in material culture, and methods of making, how ideas flow across borders, via objects, ideas, materials, and know-how.
South Asia Everywhere stands for amplifying the reach, impact, and the often-complicated overlapping histories and entanglements of South Asia with the broader world.
How to apply
Applicants must be currently residing in the UK or have plans to be residing in the UK during the Fellowship period. Applicants should submit in one pdf document:
- a creative proposal responding to the seasonal theme South Asia Everywhere (no more than 500 words)
- a CV
- 3-4 examples of prior work
- a research plan
- a draft budget
The research plan should outline which of the three countries they intend to carry out fieldwork research (Pakistan, Nepal or Bangladesh) and some indication of sites they wish to visit for their research. The draft budget should give indication of how research money is to be spent, an estimate of production costs, the artist fee, and any other payments to collaborators. A total of £25,000.00 will be awarded to each Fellow; from that £25,000.00, £5,000.00 will be allocated to research in South Asia and London, and £20,000.00 allocated to the production of a new work including install fees, artist fees, and collaborator fees.
Submission Deadline
The deadline for applications is July 31st, and interviews for shortlisted candidates will occur in early August, with a final decision being made by August 31st. Application should be emailed to: EastFellowship@vam.ac.uk
Upon receipt of the applications, a shortlist of applicants will be asked to participate in an interview online with a jury of representatives from V&A East and the British Council to determine the final selection. The Fellowship will begin immediately upon appointment of the successful applicants and will conclude with the presentation of their commissioned work in June 2027.
About the British Council
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2024-25 we reached 600 million people.
Through our work in Architecture Design and Fashion, we create new opportunities for the UK design sector around the globe through collaboration and exchange. Our work explores the social and cultural value of a wide range of design disciplines, addressing global challenges and promoting deeper understanding of ourselves, our world and each other through design. Working with the expertise of the UK design sector and connecting them with their international counterparts in over 100 countries, we aim to increase the circulation of design skills and knowledge, generating new work and ideas in design across the world.
More information can be found on the British Council website.
More about V&A East
V&A East is dedicated to creative opportunity and its power to bring change. V&A East Storehouse and Museum are two free cultural destinations created in partnership with young people and inspired by east London’s creative heritage. Working directly with the voices that are shaping global contemporary culture, V&A East brings the V&A collection and archive to life in new ways, celebrating making in all its forms and opening up new possibilities and discoveries for everyone.
