The Culture and Art Programme which is administrated by the Nordic Culture Point in Finland enables art and culture professionals to apply for funding of innovative and educational projects. Art and culture institutions as well as organisations working with professional artists and cultural operators are also welcome to apply.

The framework budget for the programme for 2009 was €2.3 million. The amount of the subsidy depends on the type of the project:

• Pre-project: research to clarify the conditions for completing a larger project, can be fully financed up to €13,000.

• Pilot project: a trial of a larger project on a smaller scale. The duration of a pilot project is limited to one year. A pilot project can be financed up to €40,000, but not exceeding 75 percent of the project's total budget.

• Project: an entity with exact frames as to time limits and finances. The projects may last up to three years. A project can be financed up to €100,000, but not exceeding 50 percent of the project's total budget.

The project type must be clearly formulated in the application. Funding for a pre-project or a pilot project does not automatically lead to funding for a project.

The programme is divided into two modules:

1. Production-based activities and communication
The module is meant for projects that centre on productions or creative processes or create a meeting place for artists and the public. The key word is innovation, which means the development and testing of new ideas, concepts and processes. Support can be applied for different phases of the production process: research, production, introduction and distribution. The projects in the module are characterised by a clear professional profile and artistic motivation as well as a capacity to contribute to the development of the fields of art or culture they represent. The module does not support amateur or student projects.

2. Capacity development, criticism and sharing of knowledge
Support is granted for the organisation and implementation of projects that build up professional competence in the fields of art and culture. The grant is aimed at professional operators involved in capacity development and sharing knowledge in seminars, workshops, master classes, courses, etc. Grants are not given for private study trips.

Both modules of the Art and Culture Programme apply common criteria. The programme will stimulate and support interaction between the Nordic countries and the rest of the world. The main objective of the programme is development. The concept of development covers new interpretations, renewal and innovation of methods and forms of presentation and cooperation.The programme only offers funding to projects that do not last longer than three years. The programme does not support recurring projects, activities or projects which have already started and are tied to financial obligations.

The project must involve at least two Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) or autonomous areas (the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland), either in the form of a participant, organiser or topic/theme. In addition to the two countries/areas, the project may involve cooperation with other countries/areas/regions (e.g. the Baltic countries) outside the Nordic region.

Application deadlines

Questions related to the application can also be directed to the Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Estonia, Eha Vain, adviser, phone: +372 627 31 00 or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .