FUNDING BODIES (EXEMPLARY)
CBSS PROJECT SUPPORT FACILITY
With the launch of the CBSS Project Support Facility (PSF), the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) took one more step on the road towards a more project oriented regional cooperation. This funding's main purpose is to co-finance the development and implementation of Baltic Sea macro-regional cooperation projects, which bring added value for the Baltic Sea Region, show impact in regional cooperation and foster long-term partnerships. The fund should be used to facilitate project preparation and implementation in line with UN Agreements like the Sustainability Goals and in relation to the three CBSS priorities: Regional Identity, Safe & Secure Region and Sustainable & Prosperous Region.
The 2024 CBSS Project Support Facility is looking for innovative projects that focus on societal resilience and the enhancement of civil security. Preference will be given to small-scale, region-based or expert-driven projects accentuating child protection and the fight against human trafficking. They should consist of at least three partners from CBSS member states, namingly Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Germany, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, to receive a budget of up to 65.000 EUR. Every project applicant has to indicate the planned budget in an application form, divided into administration/overhead and personnel, travel and subsistence, sub-contracting and other direct costs.
CREATIVE EUROPE
Creative Europe is the European Commission's framework programme for support to the culture and media sectors. It has a budget of €2.47 billion for the 2021-2027 period and consists of two sub-programmes and a cross-sectoral strand; the CULTURE sub-programme supporting performing and visual arts, heritage, design, music, architecture, literature and other areas, and the MEDIA
sub-programme which provides funding for the cinema and audiovisual sector. The programme will allocate at least 56% of its budget for the MEDIA sub-programme and at least 31% for the CULTURE sub-programme.
A maximum of 13% of the budget will be assigned to the cross-sectoral strand, which includes support for 'Creative Europe Desks' in each participating country, providing advice to potential beneficiaries. Around €60 million is earmarked for policy cooperation and for fostering innovative approaches to audience building and new business models. It will also launch a new financial guarantee facility enabling small cultural and creative businesses to access up to €750 million in bank loans. Thus Creative Europe invests in actions that reinforce cultural diversity and respond to the needs and challenges of the cultural and creative sectors.
INTERREG BALTIC SEA REGION - PROGRAM 2021-2027
The EU funding programme Interreg Baltic Sea Region covers nine countries, eight of them EU Member States (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden)
and Norway. Their Programme 2021-2027 creates an environment for public and private partners to work together across borders on their smart ideas. Interreg BSR funds projects that help implement actions in the policy areas of the EUSBSR action plan and supports macro-regional governance and coordination.
The Programme is structured along the following four priorities and nine sub-ordinate objectives:
1. Innovative societies:
1.1 Resilient economies and communities and 1.2 Responsive public services
2. Water-smart societies:
2.1 Sustainable waters and 2.2 Blue economy
3. Climate-neutral societies:
3.1 Circular economy; 3.2 Energy transition and 3.3 Smart green mobility
4. Cooperation governance:
4.1 Project platforms and 4.2 Macro-regional governance
Projects are divided into core and small projects, with core projects including the preparation, piloting and transfer phase of solutions to a challenge related to an objective above. Small projects are not required to provide a practical solution as an outcome, but need to also set their focus on either trustbuilding, networking, resiliency or the outreach of the Programme.
NORDIC CULTURE POINT
Nordic Culture Point, seated in Helsinki, is to function as an additional input to the culture and arts of the Nordic countries and the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland. It runs a Nordic library, organises cultural events in Helsinki and around Finland and administers several of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ funding programmes for culture and society. The programmes are open to artists and cultural operators within all artistic forms, covering a range of different types of grants, from travel grants to grants for perennial productions. The various forms of grants have different objectives, criteria and deadlines for applications.
Through the Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programme for Culture financial assistance is given to artist residencies, long- and short-term networks as well as travelling cultural professionals. Norden 0-30 supports cultural, social or politcical initiatives with children and young people up to an age of 30, whereas the Volt programme funds projects that raise an interest in arts and languages in young people under 25. The Demos grant with its three subordinate categories learning, culture and networks sponsors initiatives concerning the sharing of knowledge about culture and languages, cultural collaboration with a focus on music and literature and Nordic networks. Lastly, the Arts and Culture Programme is tailored towards collaborative, diverse and sustainable art projects.
NORDIC CULTURE FUND
The Nordic Culture Fund works as a sponsoring organisation, creates partnerships and stimulates cultural policy making in the Nordic countries. It supports projects on the theme of cultural co-operation, projects that enhance co-operation and projects with considerable Nordic content. The project must be colaborative in nature, and involve exchange and/or interaction.
The Oppstart and the Project Fund both finance projects that involve at least two Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden or the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland) and may include members from other parts of the world. Oppstart is directed towards projects in their initiating phase, whereas the Project Fund seeks fully fleshed-out concepts. In addition, the Nordic Culture Fund has developed Globus, a grant for projects with one Nordeic and at least one other partner. It is meant to support projects that couldn’t be carried out in the North alone, but need the global partnership to function.
SWEDISH INSTITUTE
With about 900 funded projects in eight funding programmes, the Swedish Institute (SI) aims to build interest and trust in Sweden around the world through cooperation in the Baltic Sea region and global sustainable development. SI shares information about Sweden abroad, analyses Sweden’s image and facilitates international exchanges and partnerships. Besides own events and projects, it offers scholarships, funding opportunities, of which a call for Swedish and Ukranian cooperation is currently open, and SI Leadership Programmes with an expanding alumni network.
The scholarships aimed at professionals outside Sweden fully provide the financial means for a one- or two-year master’s education. They encompass over 700 of the 1000 master’s studies in Sweden taught in English.
Three different SI Leadership Programmes are currently accepting applications. They are reaching for entreponeurs wanting to make a change towards a sustainable society. The programme will enhance their skills and create a knowledgeable, multi-national network.
