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Tawanda Matanhire Arts reporter
The British Council has embarked on various projects which are aimed at improving cultural relations between the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe.

Speaking at a breakfast meeting for culture practitioners in Harare yesterday, director of British Council Sam Harvey said the projects will involve artists from Zimbabwe and the UK.

Harvey said they are engaging in various exchange projects which are not political so that artists can interrelate and share their different cultural backgrounds.

“We are involved in dialogues that are not political so as to promote relations using different art forms,” she said.

Projects coordinator for British Council Chipo Kanyumbu said they have laid projects which include Arts, Youth Engagement and Education ,Shakespeare, Mix The City, World Voice, Creative Entrepreneurship and EUNIC Creative Zimbabwe.

She said they will be inviting music artists from the United Kingdom for an exchange programme so that they familiarise with the local cultures and also share their experiences.

“Various artists will be in the country and stay for probably a month or so interacting with the local artists as well as the people so that they may share their involvement and experiences when they are back in their country,” Kanyumbu said.

“There is so much undiscovered talent in the country which the British Council also want to take part in its development by offering platforms and workshops in which seasoned and upcoming artists will take part.”

As the world will be celebrating the 400th year since the death of the popular literature author Shakespeare, British Council also intends to use this opportunity to merge relations by involving itself in the creation of films and involving people who will use Shakespeare’s content to interact with the world through art on social media platforms.

The British Council was established in 1980 and has been involved in vast projects in Zimbabwe and has offices in Harare and Bulawayo.