The first application round of the Culture and Art Programme in 2026 clearly reflects that we live in turbulent times. This is confirmed by the programme’s expert group which, at its decision-making meeting in May, allocated nearly EUR 1.13 million across 27 different collaborative projects. This corresponds to 13 percent of applications being awarded funding.
According to the chair of the expert group, Olle Strandberg Colling, artists and other cultural practitioners are now seeking funding to establish a context around issues such as resilience, the redefinition of practice, and the development of methods to bolster the community in times of change.
“One example of this is the many projects where art and the performing arts are woven together with conversation, cooking, and other social activities that strengthen and build new interpersonal relationships with residents in connection with artistic presentations,” says Olle.
International interest
Olle notes that the applications include practitioners from all fields of art, and also mentions how circus performance has found its way into the programme as an example of contemporary performing arts. Applications for new Nordic drama and its dissemination across both Nordic and international contexts were particularly prominent in this round.
“Overall, it seems that there is international interest in the programme. We’re also seeing a trend for applications that seek to create programmes that promote the non-Nordic export of groups and artists,” he says.
For the expert group, it was important to discuss the balance between funding artist-driven projects and projects being pursued by institutions and intermediaries, which often have a greater overview of the entire ecosystem.
“In times such as these, it’s important to take the plunge and fund artistically risky projects while safeguarding and strengthening collaborations between scenes, institutions, and their associated artists,” Olle concludes.
Examples of projects awarded funding
- In July 2026, Nordic artists will gather at the GÁTT Nordic Camp in Tórshavn on the Faroe Islands to develop their artistic activity and forge new contacts. The starting point is the question: “Can cross-border contacts promote resilience in artistic activity in uncertain times?”
- The dance and music project Cinde(f******)rella makes a new interpretation of Cinderella through Prokofiev’s music, where darkness and light are in balance. Based on resilience, it pays tribute to Prokofiev’s ballet while exploring resistance and transformation. Every role figure is symbolic but at the same time deeply human, shaped by struggle and change through contemporary dance.
- LYS – Nordic Fluorescent Minerals is a knowledge-sharing project about fluorescence in Nordic raw materials, based on ceramic research and field work in the Nordics. LYS culminates in two collective exhibitions at Kunsthall Grenland in Norway and Observatoriebeholderen in Denmark, as well as a large public UV symposium at Gustavsbergs Porslinsfabrik in Sweden.
See all the projects that received funding in this round.
The second application round for the Culture and Art Programme will open on 10 August 2026.