The Nordic Council of Ministers has established a three-year grant programme to encourage art and culture practitioners in all artistic fields from the Nordic and Baltic countries to new innovative initiatives and cooperation, exceed both national as well as spiritual borders, and improve their skills.

More precisely, the Nordic-Baltic mobility programme for culture comprises of three parts:

• long and short-term network building,
• mobility subsidy,
• artists’ residencies.

The programme is administered by Nordic Culture Point in Finland. It accepts the applications and arranges the following procedures, including payment of grants. Therefore the whole application process and the subsequent reporting is in English and is administrated via the Nordic Culture Point’s website. A more detailed description of the programme as well as information about the conditions of applying can be found there. Questions related to the application can be also directed to the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Estonia, Eha Vain, adviser, phone: +372 627 31 04, e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

A group of expects examines the applications and makes a decision. Decisions can be expected no later than two months after the deadline of application.

Network building

The main purpose of the programme is to create a possibility for Nordic-Baltic artists, producers and culture practitioners in all artistic fields to diversify contacts, exchange experience and knowledge as well as enrich professional skills. Organisations and institutions as well as individuals are entitled to support.

The network must consist of:

• at least three Nordic countries,
• at least three Baltic countries,
• at least three partners from the Nordic and Baltic countries.

The network can also include partners from outside the Nordic-Baltic region. New networks, culturally diversified cooperation and activities combining artists from different artistic fields are favoured.

The programme is divided in long (until three year) and short-term (until one year) support. In the first case the programme can cover up to 50 percent (max. €150,000), in the second case up to 70 percent (€25,000) of the budget.

Some terms and conditions for short-term support:

• the network has a clear purpose and timeframe,
• the network creates new contacts and wishes to involves others to its’ activities,
• the network aims to establish new initiatives, create processes and cooperation.

Some terms and conditions for long-term support:

• the network has a comprehensible goal,
• the network has innovative ideas and initiatives,
• the network is transparent and communicative,
• the network distributes information about itself, its’ work and the results of its activities.

Application deadlines

Mobility

Professional artists, writers, translators, curators, producers, etc. – all art and culture practitioners from all artistic fields in the Nordic and Baltic countries are welcome to apply for this subsidy of up to €330 for mobility in the region. In addition there is a possibility to apply for an accommodation subsidy. The amount of this subsidy, for up to one week, varies among countries and cities.

The subsidy should vivify Nordic-Baltic cooperation, help to better understanding of similarities and differences in the region and promote knowledge of artists and their works in the Nordic and Baltic countries. New initiatives and arrangements are favoured.

The applicant and traveller must be one and the same person. The application is open only for individuals; civil servants are not eligible to apply. Students can apply for similar subsidy via the Nordplus grant programme.

Application deadlines

Artists’ residencies

Organisations and institutions that invite artists and culture practitioners and create working conditions for them can apply for subsidies. This grant covers both travel and accommodation costs. The applicant can choose whom it will invite. Individual artists are not eligible for applying.

Some terms and conditions:

• the residency offers continuous living and working opportunities for professional art and culture practitioners,
• the residency has a clear action plan and will to support innovative artistic activities,
• the residency is able to support the work of artists.

Application deadlines