Artist Funding in Denmark
Arts councils, grants, and funding bodies for artists
Danish Arts Foundation – Exhibition of Danish Art Abroad
This programme of the Danish Arts Foundation supports exhibitions and projects that present contemporary Danish art abroad and contemporary international art in Denmark. Visual artists, curators, and institutions can apply for costs such as production of new works, shipping, insurance, installation, communication, and travel when projects are of high artistic quality and accessible to the public.
Danish Arts Foundation (Statens Kunstfond)
The Danish Arts Foundation is Denmark’s main national public arts funding body, supporting visual arts, literature, music, performing arts, architecture, crafts and design. For visual artists it offers working grants, production support, residency schemes, and funding for exhibitions and international collaborations. Grants range from modest project support to substantial multi-year working grants assessed by expert committees.
Københavns Kommune – Copenhagen City Grant Schemes for Art and Culture
The City of Copenhagen provides grants for cultural projects, including visual arts exhibitions, public art interventions, and community-based projects within the municipality. Professional artists, collectives, and organisations can apply for project costs such as artist fees, production, communication, and audience engagement, with special emphasis on local relevance and public accessibility.
Nordic Culture Fund (Nordisk Kulturfond)
The Nordic Culture Fund supports cultural and artistic collaboration across the Nordic region, including visual arts exhibitions, residencies, and network projects involving Danish partners. It funds travel, production, and presentation costs for projects that foster long-term Nordic connections and can provide grants from small travel support up to larger project funding.
Nordic Culture Point – Culture and Art Programme
The Culture and Art Programme funds Nordic co-operation projects across all art forms, including visual arts, at all stages from preliminary work to full production, presentation and dissemination. Projects must involve partners from at least three countries (at least two Nordic) and can receive up to EUR 7,000 without co-funding, EUR 40,000 with 30% co-funding, or EUR 100,000 with 50% co-funding, covering directly related project costs.
Ny Carlsbergfondet – Funding for Temporary Art Projects in Denmark
This specific programme of the New Carlsberg Foundation supports temporary, site-specific art projects in Denmark that reach broad audiences outside traditional art institutions, including festivals and public-space projects. It can cover all realisation costs such as artist fees, production, shipping, insurance, installation, educational activities and communication, but does not pay salaries for permanent staff.
Ny Carlsbergfondet (New Carlsberg Foundation)
The New Carlsberg Foundation is a major private foundation that funds visual arts, focusing on museums and institutions but also supporting temporary, site-specific art projects and acquisitions. Its temporary projects scheme (phasing out after 2025) has covered artist fees, production, installation, communication, research and travel for ambitious public art projects in Denmark, often in non-traditional venues.
Regionale Kulturpuljer (Regional Culture Pools, e.g. Region Hovedstaden)
Denmark’s regions run cultural funding pools that can support visual arts projects with a strong regional impact, such as exhibitions, public art, and collaborative initiatives between municipalities and institutions. These schemes typically fund production, mediation and development costs for professional cultural actors working within a given region.
Slots- og Kulturstyrelsen (Danish Agency for Culture and Palaces) – Visual Arts Grants
The Danish Agency for Culture and Palaces administers several visual arts-related schemes on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and the Danish Arts Foundation, including project support, international cultural exchange, and certain residency and travel grants. Support typically targets professional artists, curators, and institutions working with contemporary art in Denmark or involving Danish artists abroad.
Statens Museum for Kunst (SMK) – Research and Exhibition Collaboration Grants
The National Gallery of Denmark (SMK) occasionally offers research and collaboration grants and co-produces exhibitions with visual artists and curators, supporting production, research, and mediation of contemporary and historical art. Opportunities are typically tied to specific calls or curated projects rather than open rolling applications, and are aimed at professional artists and researchers.
Artist Residencies in Denmark
20 residencies listed
Sound Art Lab
Struer, Denmark
Sound Art Lab is an artist-run residency program located in Struer, Denmark, near the scenic coastal landscapes of Limfjorden. The program supports international artists working in sound-related practices by offering an environment conducive to exploration, experimentation, and collaboration. Artists are provided with free accommodation in a shared artist apartment, access to well-equipped facilities for artistic production, and artistic and technical supervision throughout their project. The residency encourages artists to use their time for focused work and creative development without the pressure of producing a finished product. Participants are expected to document their stay and have the opportunity to present their work publicly through various forms such as artist talks, performances, exhibitions, or digital documentation. Sound Art Lab also facilitates connections with local audio technology companies and other partners, enhancing the cultural exchange and professional growth of the artists. The program aims to create a vibrant and dynamic space for sound artists to thrive and expand their artistic practices. Sound Art Lab’s commitment to fostering creativity and innovation in sound art makes it a unique and valuable residency experience.
Art Hub Copenhagen
Copenhagen, Denmark
Art Hub Copenhagen (AHC) is an innovative and international art institution based in Copenhagen, Denmark, dedicated to supporting and promoting professional visual artists. It aims to broaden and qualify public debates on artistic practice and strengthen the voice of artists in society. With a focus on artistic research, production, development, and communication, AHC offers professional facilities and sparring in artistic development, networking, research, and the production of new works. It serves as a meeting place that brings together artists, curators, writers, researchers, companies, cultural institutions, and the general public in a new community. AHC is committed to boosting dialogues on contemporary art both nationally and internationally by facilitating collaborations with a wide range of local and international partners. The institution is known for its residency programs, including the traditional Art Hub Residency and the Residency To-Go program, which is specifically designed for artists with their own studios. This unique program focuses on feedback, network development, and professional guidance, offering discussion/feedback sessions with curators and mentors from Denmark and Skåne County, Sweden. Founded by the Bikuben Foundation in 2018 and continuing to receive its support, AHC operates independently with its own board. It is located at Halmtorvet 27, 1700 Copenhagen V, Denmark, and engages in various activities aimed at supporting the artistic community and fostering dialogue within the art world.
Fabrikken
Copenhagen, Denmark
FABRIKKEN for Kunst og Design is a not-for-profit art institution located in Copenhagen, Denmark, dedicated to fostering the professional growth of visual artists and designers. It provides over 70 Copenhagen-based professionals with studio spaces and a 1,000 m2 area for artistic production and events, emphasizing a spirit of professionalism and exchange. FABRIKKEN's International Residency programs, aimed at promoting artistic practices and careers, offer fully funded residencies ranging from one to three months. These programs are designed to internationalize the Danish art scene by facilitating research, networking, and cross-border collaborations. Since 2007, nearly 200 international artists have participated, benefiting from private studios, shared accommodations, travel grants, stipends, and curatorial support. Residencies often conclude with a public event, showcasing the work developed during the stay. FABRIKKEN encourages sustainable travel and assists artists in exploring eco-friendly transportation options. The institution's residency programs are supported by various foundations and institutions, highlighting its commitment to decreasing the distance between the Danish and international art scenes.
Bækkelund International Residency
Klemensker, Denmark
Bækkelund International Residency Center for Artists (BIRCA) is a workspace for performing artists and artistic development located in rural surroundings near Klemensker on the northern part of Bornholm island in Denmark. The residency offers individually arranged residencies, participates in the Island Connect program connecting artists across European island residencies, and hosts territorial residencies for up to 5 artists annually focused on community engagement and developing new socially interactive artistic tools.
Beast Artist in Residence
Østermarie, Denmark
Artist residency next to Beast art space in Østermarie, Bornholm, Denmark. Offers 1-3 month stays (Jan-May, Oct-Dec ) for artists in all fields, especially photography. Includes shared studio, digital workspace; housing provided, no stipend.
Bora Bora
Århus, Denmark
Bora Bora Residency Centre in Aarhus, Denmark, offers international residencies for professional dance artists and choreographers to research and develop projects, typically lasting 2-3 weeks with fees, travel, and accommodation provided. Residencies may occur at Bora Bora or partner venues across Denmark, selected via annual open calls prioritizing artistic quality and Danish involvement. Artists must deliver workshops, engage locally, and acknowledge the centre in future work.