Globus FORWARD – Strengthening the capacities of transnational collaborations

Background

Building artistic and creative collaborations across geographical distances and cultural contexts is a complex endeavour. By connecting perspectives from the local to the global they not only contribute to a variety of creative expressions but also foster nuanced approaches to global urgencies that can catalyse wider social change. 

However, cultural relations are increasingly affected by the uncertainties of the world.  Lack of established support structures, unequal access to resources and short-term funding practices pose additional challenges for practitioners. Establishing agile and flexible collaborative formats that are anchored in specific local contexts presents a way forward, but new efforts are needed to support their development and ability to adapt to new realities in the long-term. 

With Globus, the Nordic Culture Fund has in recent years developed a more trust-based and open-ended approach to funding transnational collaborations. Globus FORWARD is the latest edition of the initiative, building upon the experiences and insights gained from the earlier phases of Globus.  

Through the programme we wish to further explore a new approach to funding that can be embedded into the Nordic Culture Fund’s practice beyond the Globus initiative. The work is therefore supported by continued knowledge development that can also provide inspiration for other funders and the wider field of arts & culture.  

Who is it relevant for?

Globus FORWARD aims at strengthening the long-term capacities of existing collaborations that have already progressed from their initial phases and express an articulated need and motivation/readiness to develop their way of working in a long-term perspective. As with the previous phases of Globus, the focus is on collaborations that work with experimental approaches and methods, and which relate to their wider surroundings by drawing upon specific local practices and contexts. 

Applicants can be a network, artistic collective, platform or other collaborative constellation whose core operations take place in wider transnational settings, connecting practitioners from the Nordics and other parts of the world.   

Pre-application proces for new applicants

The programme is open to previous Globus grantees (Globus Call and Globus Opstart/Globus Opstart+) as well as new applicants.

Please note: if you are a new applicant/have not received Globus-funding before, we recommend that you submit a pre-application to check your eligibility before preparing a full application.

The pre-application will be open from 20 June until 1 August, and you will hear from us by 10 August. 

How does it work?

Actors who are selected for the programme receive a grant supporting the further development of the collaboration/organisations. The grantees set-up and manage their own development plans within core areas, e.g.: 

•  Clarify their own role, purpose and strategic priorities 
• Adapt and further develop the structure and format of the collaboration 
• Develop communicational capacities and advocacy 
• Embed monitoring and learning processes 
• Advance language diversity, equity and fair practices in the collaboration  
• Develop partnerships and coalitions 
• Improve sustainability efforts and planning 
• Further develop financial management and fundraising strategy 
• Build the capacities of staff and leadership 
• Develop practices to enhance physical and digital security, e.g. working in unstable locations or contexts 
• Build legal competences 

The grant can cover targeted/specific activities within the chosen areas (e.g. consultations, material costs, expert sessions, etc.). The activities can also be completely or partly integrated into the grantee’s own general operations and artistic practice/method, provided it is clearly demonstrated how this contributes to the development of the collaboration/organisations within the selected core areas. 

There is no requirement for co-financing of the Globus FORWARD grant. However, in general the grant period should l aim for stronger economic independence and sustainability after the grant period.  

The maximum grant amount that can be granted size is DKK 500,000 and the maximum grant period is 2 years (finalised by the end of 2026). The Fund can grant up to 5-8 initiatives in 2024.  

Peer-networking activities 

As a supplement to the financial support, the Fund can offer peer-networking opportunities with a focus on capacity building on specific topics and/or exchange across the grantees. Participation in these activities is not obligatory. The content and formats will be concretised and developed further according to the specific needs and interests of the grantees. The first activities are expected to take place in spring 2025. 

Please note, that the programme does not support:  

• Initiatives that serve a one-time or short-term purpose, such as individual productions, touring activities, one-time exhibitions or one-way cultural export initiatives. 
• Collaborations that do not have a clear link to the Nordic region 
• Organisations that already have a well-established structure and operations and do not present a clear need for substantial change and further development  
• The work of individual practitioners if this is not clearly connected to the development of a wider collaborative setting  
• Collaborations that are not anchored in artistic and/or cultural milieux. 
• Establishment of new collaborations. If you are initiating a new Nordic/global collaboration, we recommend reading more about our Globus Opstart+ programme

Application process and assessment

The recipients for Globus FORWARD and the grant size will be decided on the basis of written material submitted through the Fund’s application system. The proposal should include a development plan with suggestions for concrete activities as well as a budget showing the allocation of funds to the various activities.  

The material will be assessed by external experts and the Fund’s secretariat. 

After the selection

The selected grantees will be invited to a brief online exchange with the Fund, with the possibility to discuss practical matters and agree on possible future contact points with the Fund. If relevant, the Fund can make further suggestions for external experts to engage in the development activities and offer practical guidance depending on the specific needs of each grantee. The Fund will not actively participate in the development activities.  

The submitted proposals will be assessed upon the following aspects: 

Applicant: The aims and stage of the collaboration in focus and its readiness for further development:

Here the Fund will assess: 

• The relevance of the collaboration to the overall aims of Globus (geographical scope, mutual commitment and local anchoring of activities) and whether the collaboration has progressed sufficiently from its initial phases. The applicant does not have to be a formally registered organisation, but should have an emerging organizational setting or structure for its activities.  
• The explorative nature of the collaboration, both within in the artistic development, and as a way to further develop operations and nuance the work to changing environments. 
• Whether the collaboration builds on a shared ambition that goes beyond a one-time purpose and activities   
• Whether the applicant demonstrates relevant/sufficient capacity to implement the plan and manage the overall process 
• The degree to which the collaboration relates beyond the immediate partners and participants in the collaboration  

Overall motivation & development plan 

Here the Fund will assess, whether and how the proposal: 

• Presents a clear need and motivation to strengthen the applicant’s operations and way of working in a long-term perspective 
• Relates to, or shows awareness of relevant developments and dynamics in the environment/settings/contexts in which the collaboration operates. 
• The coherence of the overall timeline and suggested activities in securing the desired long-term effects 

Conditions

Budget 

The maximum amount that can be granted is DKK 500,000. There is no requirement for co-financing of the Globus FORWARD grant, but the grant period should in general aim for stronger economic independence and sustainability after the grant period.  

 It is mandatory to attach a budget showing the overall costs and expected income of the initiative. You are welcome to make use of the Fund’s template to create an informative budget. 

Work period 

The maximum grant period is two calendar years following the year in which the grant was provided. The grant period is the period during which the activities funded by the Nordic Culture Fund are planned to take place.  

Applications 

Applications must be submitted through the Fund’s digital platform My Page during the application period. All applications must be submitted in English. Applications submitted by post or e-mail will not be considered. 

Publicity 

The Fund’s grants are published on our website and in our annual report. According to the Nordic Culture Fund’s rules on public access to information, a list of applications is in the public domain, but the applications are not. 

Successful applicants 

The Fund’s general rules on crediting, payment, final reporting and accounting apply to the Globus grant. You can read more details here.