About us
The Nordic Culture Fund is a catalyst for arts and culture in the Nordic region
The Nordic Culture Fund works to support innovative and dynamic artistic and cultural life in the Nordic Region that is diverse, accessible and of high quality. Through this mission, we wish to stimulate the development of art and culture at all levels in the Nordic region, as well as in a global context.
We believe that art and culture are without borders. In a time of upheaval, when nations close in upon themselves, art can act as a focal point that opens up and creates connections.
We have three overall objectives:
- We will promote the production, innovation and communication of arts and culture in the Nordic region and globally.
- We will promote artistic and cultural networks at all levels within the Nordic cultural co-operation.
- We will develop and communicate knowledge of arts and cultural life in order to stimulate the development of cultural policy in the Nordic region.
Part of The Nordic Co-operation
The Nordic Culture Fund contributes to positive artistic and cultural development in the Nordic Region by promoting co-operation between Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland. We do this by gathering knowledge and information, building networks and providing financial support.
The Fund was established in 1966, based on an agreement between all of the Nordic countries. The Nordic Culture Fund is an independent legal entity associated with the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers.
The Nordic Culture Fund Strategy 2019-2022
Our new strategy focuses on network formation, knowledge of art and culture, and indcludes a new global focus. Read more here.
We are a part of the official Nordic Co-operation
Agreement from 1966
The Nordic Culture Fund contributes to positive artistic and cultural development in the Nordic Region by promoting co-operation between Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland. We do this by gathering knowledge and information, building networks and providing financial support.
The Fund was established in 1966, based on an agreement between all of the Nordic countries. The Nordic Culture Fund is an independent legal entity associated with the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Over 300 allocated grants yearly
The Nordic Culture Fund currently has a budget of DKK 36 million, the majority of which is awarded in the form of grants to projects in the Nordic Region and beyond.
The Nordic Culture Fund's grants are financed from the budget of the Nordic Council Ministers which is approved by the Nordic Council. The Fund is, therefore, a part of the official Nordic collaboration. The Nordic Culture Fund has according to its agreement also possibility to receive other funds for its purposes. In connection with the allocation of Puls funding The Fund has received funds from Nordic Council of Ministers for Culture, MES (Finnish Music Foundation) and Statens Kunstfond in Denmark.
Organisation
The board, experts and the secretariat are the three central parts of the organisation. Together, we will perform knowledge-based and qualitative work with high legitimacy.
Secretariat
The Secretariat takes care of the daily duties of the Nordic Culture Fund at Nordens Hus in Copenhagen. The secretariat is lead by a director who is appointed by the board of the Nordic Culture Fund. The daily tasks include every aspect of processing the applications and supporting the board and the experts. The secretariat consists of a director, four advisors and a student assistant.
The Board
The 13 members of the Board are appointed by the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers for a two-year period. Each Nordic state has two members; the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland have one each. The chair is for a term of two years and rotates between the five states.
The Board 2019
Norway:
Chairman: Jorodd Asphjell, Member of Parliament
Substitute: Helge Andre Njåstad, Member of Parliament
Vice Chairman: Henning Henriksen, assistant secretary general, Ministry of Culture
Substitute: Astrid Zachariassen, senior advisor, Ministry of Culture
Denmark:
Board member: Bertel Haarder, Member of Parliament
Substitute: Henrik Møller, Member of Parliament
Board member: Leif Lønsmann, previous director of DR
Substitute: Elsebeth Gerner Nielsen, principal, Kolding designskole
Greenland:
Board Member: Lone Nukaaraq Møller, head of department for Culture, Leisure, the Church. Vice Chairman of the Board
Substitute: Mika Lyberth, culture consultant at department for Culture, Leisure, the Church.
Åland:
Board Member: Fredrika Sundberg, director for culture and leisure, Mariehamns stad
Substitute: Jan-Ole Lönnblad, dead of culture, Ålands landskapsregering
The Faroe Islands:
Board member: Pauli Trond Petersen, Member of Parliament
Finland:
Board member: Paavo Arhinmäki, Member of Parliament
Board Substitute: Heidi Viljanen, Member of Parliament
Board member: Esa Rantanen, head of arts support, Arts Promotion Centre Finland
Substitute: Tiina Kuoppa, head of planning, Arts Promotion Centre Finland
Iceland:
Board member: Steinunn Þóra Árnadóttir, Member of Parliament
Substitute: Anna Kolbrún Árnadóttir, Member of Parliament
Board member: Þórunn Sigurðardóttir, Chairman of the Board (and former director) for Reykjavik art festival
Substitute: Einar Kárason, writer
Sweden:
Board member: Lars Mejern Larsson, Member of Parliament
Substitute: Jessica Polfjärd, Member of Parliament
Board member: Signe Westin, Deputy General Director, Swedish Arts Council
Substitute: Teshome Wondimu, founder and manager, Selam
Experts
The Fund’s panel of experts provide quality assurance, ensure that the views of people outside ‘official’ Nordic circles are taken into account and guarantee support for the work of the Fund at national level. The Nordic Culture Fund’s panel consists of experts in art and culture and they are appointed by the Board.
Denmark:
Bjarke Svendsen
Henrik Jansberg
Steen Bille
Ole Jensen
Finland:
Dan Henriksson
Pirjo Hamari
Sade Kahra
Satu Tuittila
The Faroe Islands:
Kjartan Hansen
Greenland:
Alexander Montgomery-Andersen
Iceland:
Margrét Bóasdóttir
Markús Þór Andrésson
Norway:
Deise Faria Nunes
Hege Newth
Unnur Sande
Hild Borchgrevink
Sweden:
Inga Lundén
Jochum Landin
Viktor Zeidner
Henrik Orrje
Åland:
Susanne Procopé Ilmonen
Strategy 2019-2022
Annual report
Principles for grant making
The Nordic Culture Fund has been working in the area of cultural co-operation since 1966, focusing on the allocation of grants as the main task. Last three years, we have developed a clear and more specified approach for the grants.
We see that cultural life changes continuously and, therefore, there is not two similar application. To meet the different needs of applicants, we have developed more customised grants.
Cultural life is in continuous movement, and no two applicants are identical. That’s why we’ve developed Opstart, Handmade and Puls. In this way, we can celebrate and support diversity and seize trends while they are still new.
The following principles characterise the grants by the Nordic Culture Fund:
Development of Nordic relevance, quality and co-operation
Every granted initiative and project need to support at least one of the Fund's criteria:
Nordic relevance
The projects and initiatives are, either partly or fully, created and implemented by stakeholders with a Nordic base. The projects extend beyond a national perspective and promote openness and tolerance.
Quality of the projects and how they develop art and culture in the Nordic region
The projects and initiatives need to reflect their Nordic relevance and mutual significance in local, regional, national and/or global contexts. The projects need to have long-term artistic or cultural ambitions and visions.
Quality and substance of the co-operation
There have to be a commitment of participating partners, the target groups, and the extent to which the project is embedded in relevant environments.
Risk-taking
The Nordic Culture Fund supports unique projects where the Fund's support has a distinct relevance.
The Fund supports risk-taking and through its assesment and grants allocation functions as a quality stamp for projects and initiatives.
Co-funding
The Project Funding and the thematic programs must have an appropriate level of co-funding. This is a central part of anchoring the projects to its co-operative partners.
The Fund can support the development of smaller project ideas and the start-up phase of Nordic collaborations without requirements of co-funding.
Your application process
1. Your bright idea
Develop your project and draw inspiration from successful applicants. Consider applying for Opstart funding to develop your idea and your Nordic network.
2. Your application
Get off to a good start – read the application criteria. Create a profile and submit your application on My Page.
3. Response and payment(s)
Await a response to your application. See what to do once you receive funding.
