British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations with other countries. British Council’s approach to cultural relations is a broad one. It covers governance and human rights as well as the arts, science, education and intercultural dialogue – and it sets out deliberately to break down the boundaries between them.
The aim of the British Council in Italy is to encourage dialogue and professional networking between Italians and British in the European context, primarily in the fields of public administration, politics, management and law. Through the international network of British Council offices British Council Italy is increasingly working on a multilateral level, particularly with the EU. To achieve this, it organises events and develops projects in partnership with British, Italian and European organisations, academic institutions and businesses.
The British Council operates at arm’s length from the UK government and it does not carry out its functions on behalf of the Crown. However, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is answerable to parliament for the policies, operations and performance of the British Council whilst the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is the British Council’s Sponsoring Department.
