The British Council has opened applications for a commission worth up to £70,000 for an artist working at the intersection of art and technology, with Nigerian creatives eligible to apply.
The selected artist will develop a new work exploring one of three themes: climate breakdown, artificial intelligence or disinformation. The project must be completed by autumn 2027 and designed to reach an international audience online.
The funding is divided into an artist commission of up to £50,000, as much as £10,000 in production support and a further £10,000 to share the work online and, where relevant, through an in-person event.
Only one commission will be awarded in this round.
Applicants must propose an artwork alongside an online presentation and promotional campaign. A physical event can form part of the project but is not compulsory.
The successful artist will also advise the British Council on the future direction of the programme, giving them a role in shaping how later commissions support work across art and technology.
Why the British Council is funding artists in technology
The commission follows the British Council’s 2025 report, Why Technology Needs Artists: 40 International Perspectives. The research brought together 56 leaders across 20 countries and argued that artists can influence how emerging technologies are developed, understood and used.
Its case studies included artists, researchers and cultural organisations working across artificial intelligence, quantum computing, digital heritage and creative technology. The report found that artistic practice can expose technical limitations, bring greater cultural specificity to technology and make complex systems more accessible to the public.
For Nigerian artists, the commission creates an opportunity to develop work around issues already shaping the country’s technology and cultural sectors. These include the environmental cost of digital infrastructure, the effect of artificial intelligence on creative work and the growing use of manipulated content in public debate.
How to apply
Applications can be submitted as a written proposal, film, podcast or slide deck. The deadline is 13 November 2026.
Artists should review the full eligibility criteria, delivery requirements and application form on the British Council Arts opportunities page before submitting a proposal.
