British Council Launches UK/Kenya Season 2025 to Deepen Cultural and Educational Ties.

The British Council has launched the UK/Kenya Season 2025, a cross-cultural programme designed to strengthen collaboration between Kenya and the United Kingdom through the arts, education, and innovation.

“We’ve been deliberate about bringing together diverse voices from both Kenya and the UK to shape the Season,” said Sandra Chege, Head of Arts at the British Council Kenya and Director of the Season, during a press briefing in Nairobi.

“It’s important to us that these collaborations are rooted in mutual exchange and long-term value,” she added. “We want the programme to reflect the energy and innovation we see every day in the creative scenes across both countries.”

The year-long programme will feature events in music, literature, fashion, film, architecture, and visual arts, with public showcases and exchanges taking place across Kenya and the UK.

A key focus is on elevating youth voices, supporting local creatives, and fostering global conversations on identity, technology, and cultural heritage.

Among the flagship projects is the British Pavilion at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition at the Venice Biennale. For the first time, the Pavilion will be co-curated by a UK-Kenya team, including Nairobi-based Cave_bureau’s Kabage Karanja and Stella Mutegi, alongside UK curator Owen Hopkins and academic Professor Kathryn Yuso. Their exhibition, Geology of Britannic Repair, will explore the intersection of architecture, land, and colonial histories.

The Season also builds on earlier investments such as the Catalyst Grants, which supported 19 collaborative projects between Kenya and the UK. Eleven of those have received additional funding to further develop their work in 2025.

Speaking at the event Tom, a senior British Council official, described the initiative as the most ambitious ever undertaken in the region. “It’s complex, it’ll be challenging, and I think it’s going to have a great resonance in the future,” he said. “It’s not an end in itself, it’s a catalyst for future impact.”

The Season is supported by The Africa Centre in London, the British High Commission in Kenya, and the Kenya High Commission in the UK. It also includes educational components such as the Learning and Design Lab, which brings together Kenyan and UK universities to develop climate resilience solutions.

The official launch event will take place on May 2 at the British Council Nairobi offices, with creative showcases and expected attendance from senior officials, including the British High Commissioner and representatives from Kenya’s Ministry of Culture.