In 2009 the British Council, the United Kingdom’s international organisation for education and cultural relations, is marking its 75th anniversary worldwide and celebrating 50 years of working in Germany.

During this time and especially in recent years, we have developed from a traditional cultural institute, with a main focus on bilateral exchange and a British events programme, into a Cultural Relations organisation focussing on a mainly multilateral approach and long-term strategic cooperation with other international Cultural Relations partners.

Our partners include the Goethe-Institut, the Institute for Foreign Relations (ifa), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the German Foreign Ministry and others.

Together with these partners the we are currently addressing three globally significant themes:

• Intercultural dialogue
• Creativity and knowledge
• Climate change

In our anniversary year we, in close cooperation with our partners, are presenting these themes in a series of events entitled Reflecting Cultural Relations.

In Munich, in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut and Bavarian Radio (Bayerischer Rundfunk), we are hosting a podium discussion on the subject of “Cultural Relations and human rights" at the Neue Haus der Münchner Kammerspiele.

In Stuttgart, in cooperation with the Institute for Foreign Relations (ifa) we are hosting a podium discussion entitled “Reflecting Cultural Relations – Literature in Europe” at the Neue Staatsgalerie Stuttgart.

In Berlin, we, together with the German Foreign Ministry, Thema 1 and other partners, are addressing the theme of Cultural Relations and climate change, looking at what contribution music can make to climate protection.

Also in Berlin, we are presenting the new “Macbeth” – a production by the renowned theatre group Cheek by Jowl in the Hebbel Theatre HAU1 – as the artistic highpoint of its anniversary series.