AN APPRECIATION OF CULTURAL ASPECTS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27128, 26 August 1953, Page 8

AN APPRECIATION OF CULTURAL ASPECTS

BRITISH COUNCIL’S WORK

[By CLIFI The good fortune of being able to study in Britain at such an opportune time as the Coronation is rare. British people do not ordinarily show their feelings so readily, or advertise so well their national treasures, as they did during the Coronation period. Many visitors to Britain, in normal times, miss much of the greatness around them and fail to experience the thrill of coming in close.contact with traditions that have helped to build our Commonwealth. . To the student, resident m Britain for a period, this experience can be all-important to the success of his study. One of the important commissions of the British Council is giving the visiting scholar the opportunity of gaining the most useful contacts for his work and seeing something of the country whence the origins of his subject sprang and the traditional atmosphere through which it developed. The British Council was inaugurated by the British Government in 1935. Its organisation is unpolitical and noncommercial. As an adjunct to formal relations between’countries, the council provides the. opportunities for making the life and thought of Britain more widely known and invites other countries to make themselves better known in Britain. Through the reciprocal exchange ot cultural ideas, encouraging intercourse among technical, professional and educational groups from all quarters of the globe, “the council seeks to promote international understanding, friendship and peace.” An Extensive Field The British Council has established centres in foreign and Commonwealth countries: and its work covers an extensive field. It is concerned with scientific developments of every kind and the promotion of literature, music, drama and the fine arts. Its publications on British life and thought are printed in many languages; and it organises the supply of British technical and general publications to foreign libraries. _ , .. . . , Overseas tours by British theatrical companies, lecturers and musicians are arranged by the council. British music is brought to the attention of foreign musicians and audiences by supplying scores and sponsored recordings, in addition to its promoted concert tours by British musicians. . The direction of the council is noteworthy for its advisers, eminent in every branch of work in which the council interests itself. This impressive directional panel is perhaps responsible for the amazing vitality of all its workers and the high efficiency and enthusiastic interest in which members of its staff go about trteir duties. The council grants many scholarships and bursaries each year to enable students to visit Britain and undertake a chosen course of study. Ine welfare of the students is its special

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CON COOKI responsibility. The council also'inC. visitors on Government bursariesp the Dominions and foreign count 1 ’ 1 ® as its guests. It was as “guest sS? that I was introduced to the Stud Welfare branch of the council and ? music department. “ M To these two branches I owe a „ personal debt of gratitude, for iS personal kindness and the oon? tunities they gave me to see and*C all that is best in British music, also introduced me to leading ru* 1 makers, who were ready and w nS'' to show me all they could about tg formation and direction of their wort Through the council’s offices I able to visit schools and study i? work and direction at Covent GardL Opera and of the principal chow societies, orchestras, the British Brow casting Corporation, and Kneller Ha? I was also given the freedom of th, colleges of music to observe their and discuss problems of musical dire tion. The Student Branch The student branch of • the British Council devotes itself particularly ti introducing students from other land! to the British way of life. Under S guidance, I was able to gain sou. knowledge of university life in Can. bridge and Oxford and to visit plao. of historic interest. Tours of the |re» homes of England were arranged; aa their treasures of architectural splendour and magnificent interior were revealed. I was able to see it first hand the establishment ot n«w towns and communities that will take away some of the overcrowds population in London and learn of tha council’s work in these new areas ij establishing cultural activities. During my many British Council tours, I met people of all nationalitfa, and with them took part in interestin' and informative discussions, with grei freedom of expression and interest Great national problems were dis. cussed, and there was no bar to colon? or to students from countries of political unrest or division! with Britain. These introductions to people ot other races were full of interest and informative. The friendship and con. fidence of all students were malntafted. To me, one of the delightful aspects of these associations was the habit o( exchanging knowledge of the folk-songs of the countries represented. Many return journeys to London by British Council coach were made enjoyable by the singing of French and German folk-songs, the songs of Trinidad, a lovesong of the Arabian desert, and the mountain songs of Switzerland. The many foreign students and the representatives of the Commonwealth that I met through the council all feel the same regard for the council’s work, they hope that through the continued spread of its influence many diplomatic difficulties will be helped by the respect that so many foreign students have gained for Britain.