British Council Australia is delighted to announce that two Australia’s arts leaders have been selected to participate in this year’s Edinburgh Festival’s programmes. The British Council are hosting international delegates from across Visual Arts and Performing Arts, bringing together curators, producers and programmers from all over the world to immerse themselves in this unrivalled showcase of global cultural excellence.
Sophia Kouyoumdjian, Director of Parramatta Artists Studios, will take part in the Momentum programme, which runs alongside the Edinburgh Art Festival and provides a dynamic platform for key cultural figures from across the world to engage and build relationships with the Scottish cultural sector. With over two decades of experience in the contemporary visual arts sector, Sophia has been instrumental in shaping Western Sydney's dynamic arts scene. Her participation in Momentum will give the opportunity to meet with curators from Edinburgh's major galleries and museums, visits to artist-run spaces, and networking events with Scottish visual arts programmers. The programme offers an intensive but rewarding immersion into the Scottish visual arts scene.
Anna Reece, Artistic Director of Perth Festival for festivals 2025-2028, will attend the final week of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Edinburgh International Festival as part of the Theatre and Dance programme. Anna's extensive experience, including roles as Director of Fremantle Arts Centre and Co-CEO of Darwin Festival, positions her perfectly to engage with cutting-edge UK theatre and dance performances. This programme will offer Anna invaluable insights into current trends and innovations in British performing arts. This opportunity builds on the success our team has had in the recent past – with the Edinburgh Showcase – at brokering international collaborations and market opportunities.
The programme is comprised of a curated selection of new work which represents the best of contemporary UK practice and is ready for international touring, by engaging with work presented by the UK Nations showcases and other relevant UK performing arts productions across the Edinburgh festival. The work programmed reflects the breadth and diversity of the sector across the UK nations.
These programmes represent a unique opportunity for our Australian arts leaders to immerse themselves in one of the world's most prestigious cultural events. By facilitating these international connections, the British Council aims to foster collaboration and exchange between the Australian and UK arts sectors while nurturing international cultural connections and promoting the exchange of ideas and practices.