The Bookseller.com

9th January 2009

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British Council 'committed' to literature

20.12.07 Alison Flood

The British Council has stressed that it remains "firmly committed" to its literature projects, following reports yesterday that it was to disband its literature, film, drama, dance, design and visual arts departments.

The organisation said that it is currently undergoing a reorganisation which "involves the merging of expertise in literature into more flexible project teams". It said: "We will retain sector expertise in all of the art forms but are mobilising our resources in different ways so that we can deliver bigger, global projects with the same amount of cash resources."

It said that there would be no reduction in its £30m global arts programme budget, and that it would continue as planned with its International Young Publishing Entrepreneur Award, as well as its plans to create an online collection of contemporary British literature.

It is currently in a period of consultation with its external stakeholders and will make a further announcement about its structure in January/February 2008. Chief executive Martin Davidson said: "The arts provide a unique space for creative dialogue and underpins our understanding of the world around us. In all its forms, the arts stimulate debate and allow us to better understand what we have in common and the differences between ourselves and other societies. The British Council is deeply committed to the arts in our cultural relations work now and in the future-especially at a time when the arts and creative industries are flourishing in the UK."

Publisher Alison Flood British Council