SÍM

CULTURE AND ART PROGRAMME

https://www.nordiskkulturkontakt.org/en/grants/about-the-grant-programmes/culture-and-art-programme/

The Culture and Art Programme supports Nordic cooperation within art and
culture. You can apply for funding for a project with artistic and/or
cultural quality which promotes a multifaceted and sustainable Nordic
region.

Read our information to funding recipients regarding the coronavirus
here [1]

WHICH ACTIVITIES ARE FUNDED?

The programme grants support to projects within all areas of art and
culture, in all project phases: preliminary work, production,
presentation and dissemination. However, you cannot apply for funding
for activities which have already been conducted.

You can apply for support for projects that invest in cultural and
artistic productions and creative work as well as to organise and
implement projects that develop skills within the field of art and
culture. Support can be granted for all types of costs that are directly
associated with the project.

For example, the projects may entail:

* creation or dissemination of works, projects and initiatives that
require a creative process
* creation of meeting places between artists/cultural bodies and the
public
* development and dissemination of knowledge and/or work methods
* organising discussions and debates, as well as seminars and workshops

You cannot apply for funding for:

* tours with already existing works or productions
* running costs of institutions or other activities
* basic financing of projects which run for several years – such as
ongoing costs for an annual festival
* productions of works without the active involvement of partners other
than artists themselves, e.g. solo performances or album recordings.
* film and TV productions, productions of computer games nor book
publishing.
* projects that are part of an education or training course
* commercial activities that aim to generate a financial profit
* projects outside the artistic or cultural area, for example, sports
events.
* projects which have already started before the decision on support by
us has been approved and dispatched
* activities that have already been completed. At the earliest,
activities that are supported by the programme may begin 10 weeks after
the application deadline.

FINANCES

You can apply for support for all phases of a project, from preliminary
work to implementing a full scale project. The amount applied for should
be reasonable considering the scale of the project. The larger the
amount applied for, the larger the requirement for self-financing from,
for example, other funding bodies. Co-financing is considered a key part
of the project’s conditions.

Projects can be granted:

* up to EUR 7,000 with full financing
* up to EUR 40,000 with at least 30% co-financing
* up to EUR 100,000 with at least 50% co-financing

Therefore this means that the grant from the Culture and Art Programme
can cover between 50 – 100% of the project’s total costs, depending
on the size of the applied grant.

In-kind financing can count towards co-financing. In-kind financing
consists of goods or services as payment instead of cash. For example,
voluntary work. How you estimate the working hours of volunteers should
be specified in the budget and the amount must be reasonable considering
the tasks and their duration.

We recommend that all the project’s costs are collated into one
application to Nordic Culture Point. For example, all travel costs can
be included in the application to the Culture and Art Programme.

For an example of how to make a detailed budgetary appendix, please see
here [2].

Support from other Nordic organisations
It is also possible to apply for support from other pan Nordic
institutions and organisations, such as, for example, the Nordic Culture
Fund, for the same project. The total funding from the Culture and Art
Programme and other Nordic organisations may not exceed 85% of the
budget.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Everyone who is active within the field of art and culture can apply,
provided that the project fulfils the programme’s criteria and the
cooperation includes partners from minimum three countries, of which at
least two are Nordic, that is, either Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland,
Finland, the Åland Islands, the Faroe Islands and/or Greenland.

Applicants can be:

* individuals
* groups
* organisations, institutions and companies

It is neither necessary for the applicants to live or work in the Nordic
region. Furthermore, it is neither necessary for the person or members
of the group to have Nordic nationality, as long as the Nordic dimension
of the project is fulfilled in other ways.

HOW IS AN APPLICATION ASSESSED?

The assessment is conducted based on the aforementioned criteria and
depending on how well the application has managed to convey the
following:

Nordic dimension
The Nordic dimension is assessed based on how it promotes cooperation
between the Nordic countries or between the Nordic countries and the
rest of the world. This by, for example, contributing to greater
understanding between the Nordic countries and/or knowledge of Nordic
artists and their works. It would also be an advantage if the project
promotes language comprehension in the Nordic region.

In cases involving Nordic participation/themes in international
projects, the Nordic participation should have a significant impact on
the content of the project and should be clearly explained in the
application.

Cooperation
The cooperation dimension is assessed based on how well it creates
exchange of knowledge between the different participants and/or
organisers of the project, and whether it creates new contacts between
persons who work with culture.

Quality
The project is assessed based on how it develops and raises the quality
of the art and culture area, the innovativeness of the project and
whether the results of the work will persist. The applicant’s ability
to complete the project in a good manner will also be assessed.

Sustainability
The project’s sustainability is assessed from a social, economic,
cultural and ecological perspective. Projects are also assessed in terms
of their contribution to creating cohesion and the promotion of an
inclusive and multifaceted artistic and cultural life in the Nordic
region. Please find more information on sustainability in the following
co-operation programme on cultural policy.

Strategic guidelines for cultural co-operation within Nordic council of
ministers

The assessment of applications for Culture and art programme is also
influenced by following two documents:

The policy for mainstreaming sustainable development, gender equality,
and a child rights and youth perspective in the Nordic Council of
Ministers [3]

Co-operation programme on culture policy 2021–2024:
Art and culture – driving force for sustainable development in the
Nordic region. [4]

Strategic priorities of the co-operation programme are:

• _A green Nordic region:_
A green cultural life ensures good living opportunities for present and
future generations
• _A competitive Nordic region:_
Vibrant art and cultural life in and outside our region contributes to
green growth
• _A socially sustainable Nordic region:_
An inclusive Nordic cultural life promotes democracy, diversity, and
quality of life

To view an FAQ about our programmes, please click here. [5]

Please note that the application deadline is 15:59, Finnish time.
Granted projects may begin 10 weeks after the application deadline
within the Culture and Art programme.

Application rounds:
07.02.2022 – 07.03.2022 15:59

Links:
------
[1]
https://www.nordiskkulturkontakt.org/en/information-about-coronavirus-for-visitors-and-funding-recipients/
[2]
https://www.nordiskkulturkontakt.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Budget_for_applicants.xlsx
[3] https://pub.norden.org/politiknord2020-719/#
[4] https://pub.norden.org/politiknord2021-708/#
[5] https://www.nordiskkulturkontakt.org/en/grants/application/help/