Artist Funding in Norway
Arts councils, grants, and funding bodies for artists
Arts Council Norway (Kulturrådet) / Norwegian Cultural Fund
Arts Council Norway is the main national public funder for arts and culture projects, administering the Norwegian Cultural Fund and a wide range of schemes for visual arts, performance, literature and more. It supports project-based work such as exhibitions, production, artist-run spaces, as well as international collaboration and EU-related programmes. Individual visual artists, collectives and institutions can apply; grant sizes range from modest production support to larger multi-year project funding.
Bildende Kunstneres Hjelpefond
Bildende Kunstneres Hjelpefond is an artist-run fund offering working grants for visual artists based in Norway, regardless of age, residence within the country, or organizational membership. Grants typically support general artistic work and can be held alongside certain other funding sources, but normally not simultaneously with another major national work grant. Awards are made annually via open call and are disbursed as stipends rather than project-specific budgets.
Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond
Billedkunstnernes Vederlagsfond distributes artist grants financed through visual artists’ resale and reproduction rights. Visual artists usually apply via the Norwegian Association for Visual Artists (NBK) or the Norwegian Association for Arts and Crafts (NK). The fund provides work and project grants that support ongoing practice and specific artistic development, generally as lump-sum stipends rather than detailed production budgets.
Free Word Foundation (Fritt Ord)
Fritt Ord is a private foundation supporting freedom of expression, media and public debate, but it also funds projects at the intersection of art, documentation and critical discourse, including visual arts. Visual artists can apply for project grants related to socially engaged work, documentary practices, exhibitions and publications that stimulate public debate. Grant amounts vary widely, from modest contributions to substantial project budgets.
Government Grants for Artists / Statens kunstnerstipend (administered by Arts Council Norway)
These are direct government work grants and stipends for individual professional artists living and working primarily in Norway, including visual artists. Schemes include 1–5 year work grants, work grants for younger/newly established artists, 10-year grants for established and senior artists, and one-off miscellaneous grants (up to around NOK 100,000) for artistic activity. Annual work grants are paid as a yearly amount (around NOK 318,000) in monthly instalments, functioning like a modest salary.
Nordic Culture Fund (Nordisk Kulturfond)
The Nordic Culture Fund supports collaborative arts and culture projects involving partners from at least two Nordic countries, including Norway. Visual artists can apply for project grants that cover production, mobility and networking in a Nordic context, often in collaboration with organizations or other artists. Grant sizes vary from small-scale support to larger project funding and are supplementary to national schemes.
Office for Contemporary Art Norway (OCA)
OCA is a national foundation that facilitates international collaboration and supports Norwegian-based contemporary artists and curators in international contexts. Its International Support schemes offer travel funding and project support for participation in exhibitions, residencies, biennials and other events abroad, as well as some residency and research opportunities. Support is typically partial funding to complement other sources.
Oslo Municipality – Artist Grants (Oslo kommunes kunstnerstipend)
Oslo Municipality offers artist grants and project support schemes for professional artists, including visual artists, typically requiring residency or strong professional activity in Oslo. Grants may support general working time, specific projects, or initiatives that contribute to the city’s cultural life, often in the form of one-year stipends or project grants. Amounts vary but are generally intended to complement national grants rather than fully fund a practice.
Public Art Norway (KORO – Kunst i offentlige rom)
KORO is the national body responsible for art in public spaces, administering Norway’s percent-for-art scheme that allocates roughly 0.5–1.5% of public building budgets to art. Visual artists can receive commissions as artists or consultants for permanent and temporary works in government, municipal and county buildings, as well as site-specific and socially engaged projects. Support is provided in the form of fees, production budgets and project management rather than open-ended grants.
Skien Municipality Artist Grant (Skien kommunes kunstnerstipend / Skien artist grant)
The Skien artist grant offers a combined residency and working grant, including accommodation in Skien, a workshop/studio and a stipend of around NOK 155,000 (with a portion earmarked as project funds). The stay must typically last between 10 and 12 months, and artists are expected to engage with the local community and context. It is aimed at professional artists, including visual artists, who are willing to live and work in Skien for the grant period.
Artist Residencies in Norway
26 residencies listed
The Arctic Circle
Longyearbyen, Norway
The Arctic Circle is an annual expeditionary residency program established in 2009, focusing on interdisciplinary collaborations among artists, scientists, architects, and educators. Participants explore the high-Arctic Svalbard Archipelago and Arctic Ocean aboard a specially equipped expedition vessel. The program encourages engagement in contemporary issues and professional development through fieldwork, research, and public engagement. It supports the creation and exhibition of new work, fostering individual creativity and collaborative efforts. The Arctic Circle accepts applications from international contemporary artists, scientists, architects, educators, and innovators. The program includes hotel accommodation in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, all meals on board, shore excursions, and access to onboard facilities. Participants are responsible for their transportation to and from Longyearbyen, Svalbard. The expeditions offer opportunities for personal projects and collaborations, with two distinct expedition opportunities aboard different vessels. Both vessels provide workspace, common areas, and privacy for productivity and creativity. The Arctic Circle team offers comprehensive support in expedition preparation and logistics planning, ensuring a safe and productive environment for all participants. The program takes place in the international territory of Svalbard, near the North Pole, offering a unique environment for artistic and scientific exploration.
PRAKSIS
Oslo, Norway
PRAKSIS, established in 2015 in Oslo, Norway, is a dynamic platform that fosters collaboration and creativity among artists, thinkers, and researchers from various disciplines. With a commitment to addressing contemporary issues, PRAKSIS offers thematic residencies that operate nomadically, leveraging partnerships with a range of organizations. Open to local, national, and international applicants, these residencies provide a supportive, high-energy environment for creative exploration and dialogue. Offering three to four residencies annually, PRAKSIS supports participants with accommodation, a stipend for international residents, and a rich program of activities. By emphasizing peer-to-peer interaction and public engagement, PRAKSIS aims to demystify the creative process and encourage a broader understanding of artistic practice.
The Nordic Artists’ Centre Dale (NKD)
Dale i Sunnfjord, Norway
The Nordic Artists’ Centre Dale (NKD) is an internationally recognized art residency located in Dale i Sunnfjord, Norway, established in 1998. Supported by the Arts Council Norway, NKD offers opportunities for artists, designers, architects, and curators to develop their practice, engage with the local and international art scene, and collaborate with peers. The center provides residents with a monthly stipend, individual studios, and separate living accommodations, all located on-site. NKD is renowned for its beautiful and tranquil setting in the Norwegian fjords, offering five individual cabins and two apartments as housing for residents. The studios are large, 50 square meters each, and equipped with natural light, high ceilings, and necessary facilities for various artistic practices. Applications are accepted through annual open calls, typically announced in January and February. NKD also promotes open studios, workshops, and seminars to engage both residents and the local community.
AiR Green
Noresund, Norway
AiR Green offers a specialized residency program tailored for artists working with textile media at Søndre Green farm, beautifully situated at the foot of the Norefjell mountain range in Krødsherad Municipality, Norway. The program aims to provide space for focused work, support the development and dissemination of textile art, and foster connections between artists from around the world who explore textile expressions. AiR Green offers two residency formats: the regular program for four artists over one month sharing kitchen and bathroom facilities in the main farmhouse, and Studio AiR Green for a single artist during a two-month stay with private facilities. The historic 18th-century main farmhouse (350m²) was fully renovated in 2013/14 and includes 3 double bedrooms, 3 single bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, multiple living rooms, and spacious kitchen/dining areas. Artists have access to multiple work spaces including a 40m² workroom in the main house, a 40m² wet room in the brewing house, and the 'Høytørka' gallery space (3m×16m×4.8m high). The farm features traditional textile equipment including vertical looms, flat looms, and Spælsau sheep providing wool for spinning and dyeing, plus natural herbs and plants for textile dyeing.
AIR Sandnes
Norway
Name of Residency: AiR SandnesAiR Sandnes offer a residency to professional artists. The artist can be from abroad, a Norwegian national or a regional artist wanting an alternative project space. The offer consists of a 1-3 months residency in Sandnes, in a rent-free studio with accommodation. AiR Sandnes is jointly owned by Sandnes City Council and Rogaland County Council,Residency Programme since: 1989Description of Organisation: AiR Sandnes offer a residency to professional artists. The arti
AiR Vesteraalen
Melbu, Norway
AiR Vesterålen is a comprehensive artist residency programme across five municipalities in the Vesterålen islands, Norway, involving locations in Bø, Øksnes, Andøya, Sortland, and Hadsel with themes like Art/Nature/Play, Art/Coastal Culture, Art/Technology, Art/Urban Spaces, and Art/Community. It welcomes professional artists, curators, writers, and cross-disciplinary practitioners for two stays of 10 days each over two years, focusing on local research, community engagement, and public presentations. The programme provides accommodation, travel coverage, a fee of 7000 NOK per stay, production costs up to 10,000 NOK, and facilities like shared workspaces, library, gallery, and stage, though it entered its final year in with no new applications.