The British Council has officially opened the 2026 funding round for its Cultural Protection Fund (CPF), inviting eligible organisations to apply for grants of up to £500,000 to protect cultural heritage at risk from conflict and climate change in 17 countries, including Bangladesh, a press release said.

Now in its tenth year, the Cultural Protection Fund has supported projects in Bangladesh that empower communities and safeguard heritage that connects people to history, identity and each other.

Recent projects in Bangladesh include modernising collections care and celebrating local history at the Varendra Research Museum. By delivering comprehensive collections management and oral tradition safeguarding training for the entire museum staff, the initiative built crucial local capacity to protect irreplaceable artefacts.

Stephen Forbes, British Council Country Director Bangladesh, said, “We at the British Council are so pleased with what has already been achieved by Bangladesh and UK partners with the support of the Cultural Protection Fund. Our latest funding round marks a renewed commitment to safeguard endangered heritage by empowering the communities who live alongside it. With grants of up to £500k now available, we are supporting vital new work that enables local practitioners to sharpen their expertise, forge international networks, and spearhead the future of cultural protection in our communities.”

Critical Dates for Applicants  The Expressions of Interests for CPF close on Monday 20 July 2026 at 23:59 Bangladesh time.  Applicants are strongly advised to consult the official 2026 application guidance and comprehensive FAQs, available on the Cultural Protection Fund website, prior to submission.

To assist regional applicants in navigating the application criteria and developing competitive applications, the British Council will host an online information session on Wednesday, 1 July 2026 | 10:00 – 11:00 AM Bangladesh time.

Funding & Eligibility Projects must protect cultural heritage at risk in one or more of the following countries:  South Asia: Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan MENA: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia or Yemen East Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania or Uganda

Organisations can apply for grants of up to £500k. For the full application guidelines and links to apply, visit the British Council’s Cultural Protection Fund website.