British Council Launches New Training Support For Southeast Asian Artisans
The British Council has announced GBP48,000 in funding to support artisan communities across Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The funding will enable local trainers to deliver the British Council’s Craft Toolkit training over the next 12 months.
The initiative, delivered through a combination of online and in-person sessions, equips trainers with practical business skills to strengthen sustainable creative livelihoods. Modules cover business planning, product development, sales and marketing, financial management and sustainability. In Malaysia, the toolkit is also available in the local language to improve accessibility.
Between 2019 and 2022, Craft Toolkit programmes reached artisans in 22 countries and 12 languages. Evaluations showed that 93% of participants reported new inspiration, while over a third made tangible changes in product design and business practices, leading to stronger incomes and more resilient craft enterprises.
Manami Yuasa, Regional Arts Director, East Asia, British Council, said, “Across Southeast Asia, craft is both a vital source of livelihood and a powerful expression of cultural identity. By investing in local trainers and providing access to practical, digital learning through the Craft Toolkit, we are supporting artisan communities to strengthen their businesses, preserve their cultural heritage and build more sustainable futures.”
The British Council conducted a five-week train-the-trainer programme in January and February 2026. Trainees, selected from local craft networks, will cascade the training within their communities over the coming year. Interpretation was provided in Thai, Vietnamese, Burmese and Bahasa Indonesia to ensure inclusivity.
The programme forms part of the British Council’s broader effort to empower under-represented communities, preserve cultural heritage and develop the creative industries throughout Southeast Asia.
