International Markets

Art Basel took place in Hong Kong on 26–31 March, alongside satellite show Art Central.

Art Basel Hong Kong presented modern and contemporary art in a variety of mediums from the world's top galleries, as well as augmenting the programme with curated projects from the Asia and Asia-Pacific region, exhibitions from emerging artists, large scale sculptures and installations, as well as short films, art publications and talks. You can watch the highlights from Art Basel in the video below.

Department for International Trade has launched the year-long Great British Design campaign, with an event in Hong Kong ahead of December's Business of Design Week (BODW). The UK is the partner country for 2019's edition of Business of Design Week taking place 2–7 December 2019.

The UK will bring the biggest ever delegation of internationally-renowned British designers to Hong Kong, including Thomas Heatherwick, Sir John Sorrell (co-founder of London Design Week) and Anya Hindmarsh.

The Department for International Trade is partnering with the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and Music Publishers Association (MPA) for the annual LA Sync Licensing Mission, held in the heart of Hollywood, on 10~14 June 2019, and is seeking industry organisations and individuals to join them.

The event supports the growth of UK music exports and includes panels, practical sessions, keynote speeches and an exclusive networking reception hosted by the British Consul General, Michael Howells.

William Fowler, curator of Artists' Moving Image at the British Film Institute, was invited to China to give a series of talks on the BFI/LUX This is Now touring programme. He tells us more about the trip and about the appetite for artists' moving image in China.

A partnership between British Council Scotland and Creative Scotland has led to £138,000 of funding going to 16 organisations after an open call for projects linked to European partners.

Successful bids for the funding receive between £6–10,000, and each project includes at least one European organisation, while helping to promote Scottish work around the world.

Winning organisations are:

Acclaimed Italian theatre director Pippo Delbono opens his "theatrical ode to joy, surprise and enchantment", La Gioia, at Hong Kong Arts Festival on 22–23 March 2019.

La Gioia highlights the consequences of living without understanding. It brings anguish and ecstasy to the stage, accompanied by paper boats, flamenco dance, flowers by the thousand and a circus parade.

Delbono is described as one of Europe's most distinctive artistic voices, in the firmament of Pasolini, Beckett, Bausch and Kantor.

The Department for International Trade is running a series of roadshows in different UK cities and are inviting companies to join them to learn about how to get involved in December's Business of Design Week in Hong Kong.

BODW will be an opportunity for ready-to-export companies who are involved in small manufacturing, architecture, experience economy, creative and design sectors to name a few, interested in attending the Business of Design Week from 2–7 December 2019.

British Council is looking to build connections between the UK creative sector and young artists in Sub-Saharan Africa.

British Council is actively seeking expressions of interest for Art Connects Us from UK-based organisations, curators and programmers in these fields:

• architecture
• dance
• design
• fashion
• film
• literature
• theatre
• visual arts

Expressions of interest will be accepted until 10 March 2019.

The UK Government's annual presence at SXSW begins on Friday 8 March with the UK Advertising and Interactive Mission Reception at the British Music Embassy. The reception will include a live performance by blues, folk and indie duo Ferris & Sylvester and synth-led electro-pop band FEMME.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) has organised a UK music industry trade mission to China for 31 March – 6 April 2019 to help open the doors to business opportunities in the world’s second largest economy.

Partnered with the Association of Independent Music (AIM), British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and Music Publishers Association (MPA), DIT will lead the week-long mission, taking place in Beijing. It will include a programme of education, networking, B2B meetings, conferences, showcases, music company site visits and other music related activities.