Network funding is part of the Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programme for Culture, which strengthens artistic and cultural cooperation in the Nordic region and the Baltic countries. The programme focuses on increasing the exchange of knowledge, contacts and interest in Nordic and Baltic art and culture. The Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programme comprises three forms of funding: Mobility funding, Network funding and Funding for artist residencies.
What is eligible for funding?
Network funding facilitates meetings, the exchange of ideas and knowledge between professional artists and cultural practitioners in the Nordic and/or Baltic region. Network funding can be applied for, for network collaboration towards a common purpose.
Application periods
Examples of network collaboration:
- a series of joint meetings, conferences, workshops, staff exchanges and joint training
- sharing resources and expertise for opinion-driven initiatives or co-operating on programming or structures for tours and the like
- the establishment of a collaborative platform which can later lead to larger international projects
Funding is not available for:
- the execution of artistic and cultural productions, tours or individual events
- (an individual party cannot apply for funding to create their own network)
- activities that have already been carried out The earliest start date for activities funded by the programme is eight weeks after the application deadline.
Although the long-term objective of the network may be a joint production or similar, funding is not available for production costs.
Who is eligible to apply?
Funding is available for groups of at least three professional artists and/or cultural practitioners (such as curators, producers, literary translators, cultural editors or researchers) in all forms of art and culture. It is assumed that you have confirmed such collaboration with the network partners before submitting your application.
“Professional” means that there is documented experience of work in the field of art and culture and/or training in art or culture.
To apply for network funding, you must be a resident of the Nordic Region (Denmark, Finland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, or Åland) or the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania), but you do not need to be a Nordic or Baltic citizen.
The network must consist of partners from:
at least three Nordic and/or Baltic countries (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, and Åland.)
The network may cover additional partners who do not operate in the Nordic or Baltic region.
How much money can you apply for?
Networks that will work together for up to three years can apply for funding of up to EUR 100,000. The contribution from Nordic Culture Point can make up a maximum of 50% of the project’s budget. Please note that the grant is available during the year in which the grant is given, plus two additional calendar years.
Long-term network funding can be applied for once a year.
The budget is an important part of the application and it must contain detailed information on how the amount being applied for will be used. You must use this template when budgeting, so that the experts can compare application budgets on an equal basis. Please note that the application may be rejected if the budget does not meet the requirements exemplified in the template.
Funding from other Nordic organisations
You can also apply funding from other pan-Nordic institutions and organisations, such as the Nordic Culture Fund, for the same project. Total funding from the Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programme and other pan-Nordic organisations must not exceed 85% of the project’s total budget.
How are applications assessed?
An assessment is made based on the above criteria and the degree to which the application successfully conveys the following:
Clear objectives and timetable
The network must clearly define its overall objectives and create a clear timetable. Innovative objectives and ideas are seen as an advantage in the assessment.
Quality and co-operation
The objective of starting the network must involve the planning of artistic initiatives and/or development of partnerships and new ways of working together. The network must create new contacts within its field of work and have contact with other stakeholders. New networks and collaborations in terms of cultural diversity or between several different types of artistic and cultural stakeholders will be prioritised in the assessment.
Communication
The network must strive to make its work accessible to others and disseminate information about its results in a transparent manner. The long-term networks are expected to have a well-thought-out communication strategy that is suitable for the network’s purpose.
The Nordic-Baltic dimension
In this context, the Nordic-Baltic dimension means that the network:
- promotes and increases contact, communication and activities between the Nordic and/or Baltic countries;
- strengthens the Nordic-Baltic presence in the cultural scene of the Nordic and Baltic region;
- strengthens understanding of the similarities and differences between the Nordic and Baltic countries; and
- improves awareness of Nordic and Baltic artists and the visibility of their work.
