British Council to fund Manchester-Nanjing cultural exchange project
The Manchester Confucius Institute, Creative Manchester and the Centre for New Writing at The University of Manchester are delighted to be part of a successful British Council bid with Manchester City of Literature and Nanjing City of Literature.
, funded by the British Council青瓜视频檚 programme, will forge a lasting relationship between Manchester in the UK and Nanjing in China, both UNESCO Cities of Literature. It will explore the natural world through literature and art, uniting poets, illustrators, and playwrights from both cities to create new work.
John McAuliffe, Professor of Poetry and Director of , said:
Creative Manchester supports interdisciplinary research -- with Greater Manchester, national and international partners -- and we are delighted to be working with the British Council and with UNESCO Cities of Literature in Manchester and Nanjing on this terrific project in which creative practice is central, and which will offer so many enabling opportunities for collaboration in future.
Karen Wang, Deputy Director, , said:
It gives our team great pleasure that the Confucius Institute is part of a project that facilitates mutual understanding and cultural exchange between the UK and China. Addressing a topic as pertinent as ecology through art and literature will enrich both cities, as well as everyone involved.
As part of the exchange, artists from Manchester will visit Nanjing in March 2025. Outputs will include a bilingual illustrated poetry collection and a play, ensuring representation from under-represented groups, including female artists.
The creative collaborations will explore the ecological theme of Real Contentment, inspired by 青瓜视频榮 poetry. Additionally, a schools engagement programme will involve 300 young people, fostering inter-cultural understanding and addressing the climate emergency through creative expression. The work created by the artist exchange and schools programme will be shared at the Festival of Libraries in June 2025 when Manchester hosts the artists from Nanjing.
Partners in the programme also include and .
The British Council青瓜视频檚 International Collaboration Grants are designed to support UK and overseas organisations to collaborate on international arts projects.