ARTS COUNCIL NORWAY

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WHO WE ARE

Arts Council Norway is the main governmental operator for the implementation of Norwegian cultural policy. Arts Council Norway functions as an advisory body to the central govern-ment and public sector on cultural affairs. The Arts Council is fully financed by the Ministry of Culture.

Arts Council Norway was established in 1965 in order to administer the Norwegian Cultural Fund. Today, Arts Council Norway is in charge of a broad spectrum of administra-tive tasks and functions within the cultural field, including artists’ grants, the Audio and Visual Fund and a number of

other funding schemes. As from 2011, Arts Council Norway also manages governmental initiatives in the museum and archive sectors, including all tasks previously performed by ABM-utvikling (the Norwegian Archive, Library and Museum Authority). The Arts Council has a staff of around 100 people.

In 2011, the total allocation from Arts Council Norway to the Norwegian cultural sector amounts to 150 million €. The allo-cations provide funding for a variety of projects and activities within performing arts, visual arts, music, literature, archives, museums and more.

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Norsk kulturråd Postboks 8052 Dep

0031 Oslo

DEVELOPMENT OF THE MUSEUM AND ARCHIVE SECTORSArts Council Norway has a key role in coordinating and facilitating the development of the Norwegian museums and archives. Arts Council Norway seeks to encourage initiatives to strengthen management, research, dissemination and innovation in the institutions. The Arts Council also has a particular focus on digital management and develop-ment in these sectors, including standards for digital retrieval/collection systems and digital presentation methodologies.

Arts Council Norway is responsible for the distribution of public fund-ing for cooperation and development projects within the archive and museum sector. In 2010, around 4 million € was distributed to over 100 projects. Arts Council Norway is also responsible for allocating annual governmental subsidies to a large number of non-governmental institutions in the field. Arts Council Norway encourages initiatives across the sectors as well as innovative projects in archives and museums.

Arts Council Norway is in charge of administrative functions in the sector at a national level, including the collection of statistics for archives and museums, follow-up of the regulations regarding export of cultural goods, and implementation of the UNESCO Convention of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Arts Council Norway administers a programme for financial support to private archives, which provides support for preser-vation and presentation methods for archival material.

THE CULTURAL FUNDThe Arts Council – 10 members appointed by the government - is responsible for the management of the Norwegian Cultural Fund (64 million € in 2011) and the management of Cultural Organizations (28 million € in 2011). The final decision of the allocation of money from the Fund is made by the Council, in accordance with the arm’s length principle. The Fund shall• stimulate creative literary and artistic activities • preserve cultural heritage • make cultural life accessible to as many people as possible.

Furthermore, the allocations from the Fund shall• support innovative art • encourage new forms of artistic expression • stimulate new presentation methods

The Council normally meets six times per year. 27 expert committees advise the Council. Members are appointed on the basis of their artistic and cultural qualifications.

The Cultural Fund consists of eight professional areas: Literature, Music, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Cultural Heritage, Children’s and Youth Culture, Arenas for Art and Other Activities. Nearly 3 000 arts projects received funding in 2010.

WHAT WE DO

Norsk kulturråd Postboks 8052 Dep

0031 Oslo

THE CULTURAL FUND

CULTURAL HERITAGE

1,3 MILLION €

PERFORMING ARTS

12,4MILLION €

VISUAL ARTS

3,5MILLION €

MUSIC

19,5MILLION €

CHILDREN`S AND YOUTH

2,4MILLION €

ARENAS FOR ARTS

2,1MILLION €

OTHER ACTIVITIES

2,8MILLION €

LITERATURE

20MILLION €

64 MILLION €

THE CULTURAL FUND

GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND GUARANTEED INCOME FOR ARTISTSAn important part of the Norwegian cultural policy is to ensure a financial basis for artistic activity. The objective of the grants and guaranteed income programme is to give creative and performing artists the opportunity to actively pursue their artistic career and to aid younger artists in establishing themselves as artists. Grants and guaranteed income are awarded by an independent committee appointed by the Ministry of Culture. Awards are made based on nomination recommenda-tions from expert committees appointed by the artist organizations.

The artist grants comprise several different types of grants. Work grants are given for up to five years in order to give an artist an opportunity to develop projects. Grants are given to the whole range of artists, includ-ing writers, musicians, composers, dancers and photographers. In 2011, a total of 434 artists receive a work grant.

About 500 artists receive a yearly, guaranteed income. Guaranteed income is intended to provide artists with financial stability and the possibility of having artistic enterprise as their primary form of occupa-tion.

OTHER ACTIVITIESThe Arts Council is in charge of the national secretariat for the Cultural Rucksack initiative. The Cultural Rucksack is a national programme for art and culture provided by professionals in Norwegian schools. It has been part of the Government’s cultural policy for primary and lower secondary schools since 2001, and has recently been extended to include upper secondary school.

The Audio and Visual Fund is a fund for the collective compensation of legal copying. The fund promotes production and dissemination of soundtracks and films as well as funding for projects within music, performing arts and visual arts.

Research plays a fundamental part in the Council’s activities. The research department evaluates the Arts Council and assembles informa-tion from the whole spectrum of cultural activity. The department issues publications with their findings.

INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL COOPERATIONArts Council Norway has a key role in the EEA Grants in the cultural field for the period 2009-2014. The Norwegian Cultural Contact Point for the EU Culture Programme is located to the Arts Council. The Arts Council is involved in several other professional networks and projects at a European and international level.

Anne Aasheim is the Director of Arts Council Norway.< From Vegard Vinge and Ida Müller’s production Vildanden by Henrik Ibsen, 2009. Photo: Magnus Skrede

Arts Council Norway / Norsk kulturrådTel: 00 47 22 47 83 30 Fax: 00 47 22 33 40 42E-mail: post@kulturrad.nowww.norskkulturrad.no

POSTAL ADDRESSArts Council Norway / Norsk kulturrådPostboks 8052 Dep, 0031 Oslo

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