a)
how to apply
If you need to find funding for a larger project, you might make contact with possible funding sources and ask for a consultation; personal meetings is usually helpful (remember to make a good impression!). They might give you valuable input for your application, and elaborate on which requirements their funding has, and whether your project fits or not.
Some applications are available only on a digital portal, where you fill in an online formula. Other places request that you send the application by e-mail.
Keep in mind that you may apply other means than just art and culture: For instance, if your project includes a workshop for children and youth in the neighborhood, there might be funds related to local community measures, or funds for activities for children and youth, where you can apply for parts of the project.
Here some tips about what the application should include (project description, budget, timeline, CV and documentation of your work).
Project description
There’s not one way to write a good project description.
However, the Arts Council offers some general advice on what you should include:
The content of the project – what you plan to do.
The purpose and background of the project – why you plan do this, what you want to explore, in what larger context the project stands.
Implementation – how do you plan to do it, and what do you need to get it done (artistic, professional, technical, practical and financial resources)
In addition, you should remember to:
Communicate the core of your project early in the text.
Figure out in what way your project is relevant to the scheme you are applying for, and highlight the things that fits the objectives of the support scheme (as a consequence, you might have to write a slightly different project description/application to the Arts Council, and to the municipality or a private sponsor, since they often have different motivation to provide funding for projects).
Never write more than you need!
Budget
When you set up a budget, it’s important to be realistic: don’t be creative with these numbers, but educate yourself on the real costs of your planned expenses and remember to budget an artist fee. Make sure that the income and expenses add up. When it comes to income, most funding bodies doesn’t fully finance a project – usually up to 50% – so make sure that your income stems from different sources, such as the Arts Council, municipality, funds, sponsors, and so on. HERE is an example on how to budget.
Timeline
The timeline helps the receiver of the application to understand how you plan to execute your project; when you will do what. It’s important to keep your timeline rooted in reality – the more realistic you are, the more reliable you seem (and the greater the chance for a positive outcome of your application). HERE’s an example.
CV
Your CV should be neatly organized and should only include information related to your artistic career. One of the best ways to start writing your CV is to read through another artists’ CV. You’ll find several different CVs of artists in Oslo here: https://osloopen.no/en/kunstnere
And a template HERE.
Your CV should include:
Personal details: Your name. You can also add year of birth, contact information (address, e-mail, phone) and a link to your website (if you have an updated one).
Education: You may have attended post-secondary school for art, or you might be a self-taught, mentored, or otherwise educated artist. Generally speaking, this section of a CV relates to institutional education, specifically in the field of visual arts. If you do have post-secondary education in the arts field, include the school(s), the year(s) that you graduated, and the degree(s).
Exhibitions: Begin with your most recent one, and list your exhibitions like this: year, title of show, institution, city/country.
If you’ve had a large number of exhibitions, you can split them into two (or more) categories: solo exhibitions and group exhibitions.
A method often used by artists is to list selected exhibitions. This has benefits, whether you’ve had a lot of exhibitions or not: if you’ve had lots, you can leave out the exhibitions that aren’t relevant to your career at this point; if you haven’t had a lot of exhibitions, you are assuring the reader that they are not looking at a short list, but rather your most relevant history.
Collections: If your work has been bought or given to a collection, you can list it here. This could be museums, corporate collections, or even municipalities or agencies.
If your work is in private collections, you can list it like this: Works held in private collections in Norway, Jordan, Germany and Syria.
Work experience: If you have work experience from the art field, such as producer, museum guide or teacher, it may be relevant to list this.
Curatorial projects: If you have done curatorial projects, you can list them simply as the exhibition itself, or add on a brief explanation.
Grants: Some artists choose to list awards and/or grants they have received.
Residencies: Artist’s residencies you have attended are good to include on your CV, as they show a dedication to your practice and to your professional development.
Memberships: If you are member of an artist association (NBK, UKS, or other) you can list it here.
Documentation of your work
Often you are required to attach a few examples of your work, documented by photo, video, sound or text. This is a great opportunity to present your work in another way. It’s important that the images/soundbites has a high quality and are easy to understand.
It’s good to have support – ask someone you trust to go through your material with you: what images/soundbites is relevant for the application, which ones represent your work in the best way possible? Be selective and picky. If you feel that the material you already have doesn’t hit the bar; arrange for new/different documentation, if possible.
Artist statement
This is a general introduction to your work, a body of work, or a specific project. Start with your works core ideas/topics, write two or three sentences about it, or a short paragraph. In the second paragraph, describe details about how these topics or ideas are presented in the work. Write in first person (“I am …”) and relate it to specific projects/works. Describe your artistic interests and methods, and your motivation to work as an artist.
For more guidelines on how to write a good artist statement, check out: https://www.gyst-ink.com/artist-statement-guidelines/
Bio
When you write your bio, keep it short (!): one paragraph, written in third person (“She/he is ...”). Include some information about your background, your educational background, where you are based, what you work with as an artist (material/technique/format), and what you are currently working on/doing.
If you need some more guidelines on how to write a bio, you can check out how other artists in Oslo write their bios: https://osloopen.no/en/kunstnere
b)
where to apply
Mainly, the grants and funding available stems from governmental institutions. However, you’ll find several different funding bodies – nationally, regionally and locally
Legathåndboken http://legathandboken.no is a great place to search for places to apply for grants and project funding (most of them probably won’t fit your project, but you may be lucky).
Become a member of the Facebook group Søknadsfrister for kunstnere (Application Deadlines for Artists) https://www.facebook.com/groups/858742554169756/ – you’ll find announcements for grants and funding on their page.
Search for grants and funding on the websites of professional art organizations, such as: https://www.norskebilledkunstnere.no/utlysninger/ and http://norskekunsthandverkere.no/kunsthandverkere/utlysninger
Also check for announcements in art magazines.
Below you’ll find a list of (a few of) the places where you can apply for grant and project funding.
Grants:
for all artists
Arts Council Norway https://kulturradet.no offers several grants. Application deadline once a year (October):
Statens kunstnerstipend
http://kulturradet.no/statens-kunstnerstipend
Work grant: granted for one to five years. Allows artists to work on a project or a specialization that contributes to the further development of their artwork.
Work grant for younger/newly established artists (up until 35 years): granted for one to three years. Enables younger/newly established artists to develop artistically and improve their chances of being able to live from their artistic work.
Miscellaneous grant (Diversistipend): a contribution to the artistic activities of single applicants (not groups). Supports (among other things) courses, travels, studies, specializations, materials, equipment, marketing and consultancy.
Miscellaneous grant for graduates/recently educated artists (Diversistipend): a grant scheme for graduates who have completed art education at BA or MFA level and aim to establish themselves in the profession. Artists with the highest degree in their field of study will be given priority.
They also offer grants for senior artists and grants for well established artists.
Working grant from Bildende Kunstneres Hjelpefond https://www.norskebilledkunstnere.no/stotteordninger/
The application deadline is once a year (October). All visual artists who’s based in Norway can apply for a grant, regardless of age, gender, place of residence, artistic expression or membership in an organization.
Working grant from Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond http://www.kunstfond.no/kunstfaglige-stipend
You apply through The Norwegian Association for Visual Artists (NBK) or The Norwegian Association for Arts and Crafts (NK).
Grants by discipline
Norwegian Photographic Fund (Nofofo) http://www.nofofo.no/en/ is a fund for allocating collective assets to artists who live and work in Norway, using photography and other camera-based forms of expression.
The Norwegian Association for Arts and Crafts http://norskekunsthandverkere.no/stotteordninger
grants for artists based in Norway, working within the crafts-field – mainly fiber, ceramic, metal, wood, glass.
Norwegian graphic artists https://www.norske-grafikere.no/soknader/soknad-om-stipend-norske-grafikeres-fond/ grants for artists working with graphics.
Norwegian artisans http://norskekunsthandverkere.no/stotteordninger grants for artists based in Norway, who work with handicrafts – mainly textiles, ceramics, metal, wood, glass.
Fund for performing artists (FUK) http://www.ffuk.no/vaare-stoetteordninger.392661.no.html provides funding to professional performing artists, musicians, singers, actors, dancers, stage instructors, conductors and others who live and mostly work in Norway. The application must be submitted in Norwegian.
Norwegian Dancers http://norskedansekunstnere.no/?page_id=36 grants for four scholars, one dancer, one choreographer, one teacher, and one project grant for dance film/video production.
Finn Tveitos Foundation's grant for the education of male Norwegian dancers http://norskedansekunstnere.no/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Finn-Tveitos-Stiftelses-stipend.pdf an annually grant, applicant should preferably be a Norwegian citizen.
Reader searching book https://lesersokerbok.no/stotteordninger/ Different grants for authors and illustrators.
Forsberg and Aulie's endowment http://www.forsbergaulieslegat.no/wp/ a grant for artists who work with painting and drawing, the applicant should be younger than 40 years.
Grants by Geography
Grants you can apply, even if you live elsewhere:
Skien artist grant http://www.skien.kommune.no/kunstnerbyen offers accommodation in Skien, a workshop/studio, and a grant of NOK 155 000. Of these, NOK 125 000 is awarded the fellow, while NOK 30 000 is project funds. The stay in Skien must last for a minimum of ten and a maximum of twelve months.
Jomfruland grant https://www.telemark.no/Vaare-tjenester/Kultur/Stipender-og-priser/Jomfrulandsstipendet offers a residency at Jomfruland in September/October, with free accomodation. The grantee is obliged to exhibit at Kragerø Kunstforening the following year.
Eidfjord artist grant https://www.eidfjord.kommune.no/tenester/kultur/tilskotsordningar/ for artists and artisans. Recipients must have a residency in the municipality during the grant year and is invited to exhibit their work at Galleri N. Bergslien. Housing and studio will be made available for the recipients.
Grants related to where you live:
Oslo municipality https://www.oslo.kommune.no/politikk-og-administrasjon/tilskudd-legater-og-stipend/#!c|f_topic_art_and_culture artist grants for both establishing and established artists living in Oslo.
Bergen municipality https://www.bergen.kommune.no/tjenestetilbud/kultur-idrett-og-fritid/kultur/festival/kulturmidler-tilskudd-til-profesjonell-kunst-og-kultur artist grants for both establishing and established artists living in Bergen.
Kristiansand municipality https://www.kristiansand.kommune.no/kultur-og-fritid/tilskudd/Om-tilskudd/ artist grant for artists living in Kristiansand.
Møre og Romsdal county municipality https://mrfylke.no/Tenesteomraade/Kultur/OEkonomisk-stoette-og-stipend/Kulturformidling/Artist artist grant for artists living in Møre og Romsdal.
Trondheim artist grant https://www.trondheim.kommune.no/tema/kultur-og-fritid/tilskudd-priser-og-stipend/tilskudd/ grant scheme for professional artists based in Trondheim.
Tromsø Cultural Grant https://www.tromso.kommune.no/stipend-og-kulturpriser.121182.no.html for professional artists based in Tromsø.
Stavanger Municipality Cultural Grants https://www.stavanger.kommune.no/kultur-og-fritid/kultur/kulturstipend/ for professional artists based in Stavanger.
Sparebankstiftelsen SpareBank 1 Nord-Norge https://snnstiftelsene.no/stipend for artists between 18 and 35 years of age, based in Northern Norway.
Finnmark county grant https://www.ffk.no/kultur/sok-tilskudd/arbeidsstipend-billedkunstnere-og-kunsthandverkere.472507.aspx working grants for artists living in Finnmark.
Project fundings:
National
Arts Council Norway https://www.kulturradet.no/stotteordninger has a number of different funding schemes for art and culture.
Free Word Foundation (Fritt Ord) http://www.frittord.no/soknader manages funds for projects in the areas of Media and Democracy, Information and Public Debate, Grants and Teaching, and Arts and Culture.
Sparebankstiftelsen https://www.sparebankstiftelsen.no/no offers national and regional funding schemes, including for arts and culture.
Regional project funding for visual arts http://www.kunstsentrene.no/regionale-prosjektmidler-for-visuell-kunst/ this scheme offers professional artists working in the visual arts field support for exhibitions and projects.
URO/KORO https://koro.no/uro/ URO is a grant and production support scheme that contributes to the realization of art projects in the outdoor area and in other open public areas. The URO grant can be applied by the state, regional and local authorities, institutions and organizations, and by curators, producers and artists.
International
UDs reisestipend https://www.stikk.no/reisestotte/ – travel grant for artists.
Office for Contemporary Arts Norway (OCA) http://www.oca.no/grants/ – travel grant for visual artist and residency applications.
Nordisk Kulturfond http://www.nordiskkulturfond.org/ – Nordic support schemes for projects involving two or more Nordic countries.
Kulturkontakt Nord https://www.nordiskkulturkontakt.org/en/grants/about-the-grant-programmes/ – Nordic support schemes, grants and residences in the Nordic and Baltic countries.
Creative Europe – EUs Cultural program https://www.kulturradet.no/eus-kulturprogram/vis-artikkel/-/asset_publisher/XEa1/content/fakta-om-kreativt-europa funding for European collaborations and network projects.
Project funding by discipline:
Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond https://www.norskebilledkunstnere.no/stotteordninger/ to enhance the ability of visual artists to carry out time-limited, defined projects in the visual arts field.
Norwegian artisans http://norskekunsthandverkere.no/stotteordninger offers funding for seminars, conferences, workshops, artistic publications, public events and other promotion of Norwegian crafts. Theory Grant. Travel funding.
Grafill https://www.grafill.no/stipend/type-stipend annually distributes grants to professional visual communication practitioners; illustration, graphic design, digital design, comic drawing, animation and service design.
Norsk Illustrasjonsfond https://www.norskillustrasjonsfond.no/stipendtyper for illustrators of books.
Norwegian Photographic Fund (Nofofo) www.nofofo.no is a fund for allocating collective assets to artists who live and work in Norway, using photography and other camera-based forms of expression.
Norwegian Actors' Association for Freelancers http://www.skuespillerforbund.no/veiledning/stipender/nsfs-fond-for-frilansere funding for productions by and with freelance who are members of the Norwegian Actors Association.
Spenn http://www.spenn.no funding for productions taking part in Den Kulturelle Skolesekken (DKS). You can apply for production equipment for performing arts for children and adolescents.
Project funding by geography:
Oslo Arts Council https://www.oslo.kommune.no/politikk-og-administrasjon/tilskudd-legater-og-stipend/ offers various funding schemes for professional art and culture in Oslo.
Bergen municipality https://www.bergen.kommune.no/tjenestetilbud/kultur-idrett-og-fritid/kultur/festival/kulturmidler-tilskudd-til-profesjonell-kunst-og-kultur offers various funding schemes for professional art and culture in Bergen.
Trondheim municipality https://www.trondheim.kommune.no/tema/kultur-og-fritid/tilskudd-priser-og-stipend/tilskudd/ offers various funding schemes for professional art and culture in Trondheim.
Stavanger municipality https://www.stavanger.kommune.no/kultur-og-fritid/kultur/kulturtilskudd/ Various funding schemes for professional art and culture in Stavanger.
Kristiansand municipality https://www.kristiansand.kommune.no/kultur-og-fritid/tilskudd/Om-tilskudd/ Various funding schemes for professional art and culture in Kristiansand.