Norwegian International Engagement for the Arts
To ensure that the Norwegian arts and culture sector participates on the international arts arena and to contribute to a stronger cultural dimension in Norway’s profile abroad. To build strong networks, ensure access to key arenas and relevant institutions/partnerships internationally and to bring international impulses back to the arts in Norway.
Funds are made available for strategic internationalisation measures (preferably long term) in cooperation with Norwegian and /or foreign professional arts organisations/actors; professional marketing of Norwegian arts; arts festivals, professional arts meetings and launching events; network initiatives to stimulate the demand for Norwegian arts and professional partnership projects with Norway (within the arts); programs for invited international guests at Norwegian arts festivals, and travel support for international experts and press visits to Norway.
To make Norwegian arts and culture successful abroad is a joint effort shared by the cultural sector, the arts' organisations/cultural industries and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the network of Norwegian foreign missions. The foreign missions are door openers and connecting links to key partners, professional arenas and market opportunities in the host countries.
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' main partners in the implementation are the Norwegian Centre for Design and Architecture, Performing Arts Hub Norway, Music Norway, Norwegian Literature Abroad (NORLA), Norwegian Crafts, the Office for Contemporary Art Norway (OCA) and the Norwegian Film Institute.
Several NGOs and/or private companies are involved in promoting Norwegian arts and culture abroad, and are beneficiaries of grants and other financial support from the Government.
That Norwegian arts are strong and competitive on the international arts arenas.
The total annual amount (in 2016) is USD 5 607 476 (NOK 48 million).
The delegated measures or the cooperation with the seven arts organisations, cf. above, have been evaluated.
The evaluation concluded that many international arts projects with Norwegian partners take place annually. Most of the travel activities/exchange take place in Europe; however, music and film have a larger geographical outspread. Based on the reports from the travel activities, most projects were found to be constructive and positive in relation to the overall objective. The participants were pleased with the measure and saw it as a very helpful and important measure to reach a larger audience and to build international networks.