 | |
| Founded | 1934 |
|---|---|
| Founder | British government |
| Type | Cultural institution |
| Headquarters | 1 Redman Place, Stratford, London E20 1JQ, England, United Kingdom |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Product | British cultural and language education |
Key people | Paul Thompson (chair) Scott McDonald (chief executive) |
Revenue (2020–21) | £924,965,472[1] |
| Expenses (2020–21) | £1,015,114,434[1] |
| Website | www.britishcouncil.org |
The British Council is a British organisation specialising in international cultural and educational opportunities. It works in over 100 countries: promoting a wider knowledge of the United Kingdom and the English language (and the Welsh language in Argentina[2]); encouraging cultural, scientific, technological and educational cooperation with the United Kingdom. The organisation has been called a soft power extension of UK foreign policy,[3][4] as well as a tool for propaganda.[5]
The British Council is governed by a Royal Charter. It is also a public corporation and an executive non-departmental public body (NDPB), sponsored by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Its headquarters are in Stratford, London. Its chair is Paul Thompson and its chief executive is Scott McDonald.[6]
- ^ a b "THE BRITISH COUNCIL - Charity 209131". Charity Commission for England and Wales. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ "Welsh Language Project | British Council". Archived from the original on 22 August 2014.
- ^ Biswas, K (7 July 2021). "The subtle art of soft power". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 7 July 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ Baker, Luke (26 June 2020). "Britain rescues its 'soft-power' branch after heavy COVID blow". Reuters. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ Beeley, Sir Harold (November 1971). "The Changing Role of British International Propaganda" (Online). The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. CCCXCVIII (Propaganda in International Affairs). Sage Publications: 124–129. doi:10.1177/000271627139800114. JSTOR 1038927. S2CID 146718416. Archived from the original on 20 February 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
Britain's international propaganda is conducted through three principal agencies: the official Information Service, the External Services of the British Broadcasting Corporation, and the British Council.
- ^ "Senior Leadership Team | British Council". britishcouncil.org. Archived from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.