NAIROBI, Kenya –The British Council has officially launched the UK/Kenya Season 2025, a dynamic year-long cultural programme designed to deepen connections between Kenya and the United Kingdom through the arts, education, and creative collaboration.
Unveiled in Nairobi on Friday, the initiative seeks to celebrate shared heritage and promote innovation through a vibrant schedule of public events and exhibitions in both countries.
From architecture and design to music, fashion, film, and literature, the Season aims to spotlight creative excellence while catalyzing dialogue around pressing global issues, including climate change, technology, and cultural identity.
The UK/Kenya Season 2025 stems from a bilateral partnership forged in 2020 under the UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership, which emphasized people-to-people ties, sustainability, mutual prosperity, and education.
This cultural season is the latest move to elevate those priorities, positioning arts and education as essential instruments of diplomacy and development.
“This programme is about more than performances or exhibitions—it’s about building enduring relationships,” said Sandra Chege, Head of Arts at British Council Kenya and Director of the Season. “By fostering partnerships between Kenyan and UK artists, collectives, and institutions, we’re supporting long-term value creation for both sides.”
As part of its preparation, the British Council awarded 19 Catalyst Grants in 2024 to support early-stage collaborations, 11 of which have now secured further support and will debut works during the Season.
Events will unfold between May and November 2025 in venues across Kenya and the UK.
In a significant highlight, Kenya will feature prominently at the British Pavilion at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition at La Biennale di Venezia.
This marks the first time the pavilion will be co-curated by a UK-Kenya team, including Kabage Karanja and Stella Mutegi of Nairobi’s Cave_bureau and UK-based curator Owen Hopkins and Professor Kathryn Yusoff.
Their exhibition, Geology of Britannic Repair, explores architecture through the lens of colonial history and ecological repair.
In the UK, the programme is being delivered in collaboration with The Africa Centre, a London-based organisation that has been showcasing African arts and culture for over six decades.
“For 60 years, we’ve served as a platform for African excellence,” said Olu Alake, CEO of The Africa Centre. “This Season offers a unique chance to celebrate Kenya’s creative power and bring it to new audiences in the UK and beyond.”
The Kenya High Commission in the UK and the British High Commission in Nairobi are also backing the initiative, with both missions playing critical roles in shaping its vision.
While arts take centre stage, education remains a key pillar.
The programme includes initiatives like the Learning and Design Lab, which brings together students and faculty from Kenyan and UK universities to co-design solutions for climate resilience—aligning academic research with local challenges.
With a thematic focus on youth voices, climate action, and cultural heritage, UK/Kenya Season 2025 reflects the British Council’s longstanding commitment to people-led diplomacy.
It also underscores Kenya’s growing reputation as a regional creative powerhouse, with digital media, fashion, and performing arts emerging as critical sectors of economic growth and international influence.
