Iceland / IJsland | Kunstenpunt

1. Cultural policy

Cultural Policy Plan of 2013 on Icelandic Government website.

Information via OTM country page: On the Move is the cultural mobility information network, providing information and knowledge for artists and cultural professionals active across borders. On this page, you can find all current calls related to the country as well as the latest version of the Cultural Mobility Funding Guide – and more.

Ars Baltica – Iceland page: Focused on cultural cooperation around the Baltic Sea, Ars Baltica provides country profiles for all 11 countries. Find your way to further information about film, literature, music, visual arts and performing arts in Iceland! Please note that “Cross-sectional” contains general information about projects, programmes and institutions that are dedicated to different fields of arts and culture.

Residencies: Overview of artist residencies in Iceland on TransArtists, all disciplines

Visual Arts Fund: The role of the Visual Arts Fund, in accordance with the Visual Arts Act, is to support Icelandic visual arts financially and by funding projects that fall within the remit and activities of the Visual Arts Council. The progress of artistic creation, promotion and improved knowledge of Icelandic visual arts, both in Iceland and abroad, shall be supported in this way. The Fund awards grants intended to facilitate the execution of projects in the creative arts and art research. The Fund also awards grants for the preparation of projects that fall within the scope of the Fund.

SIM – Association of Icelandic Artists (SÍM): founded in 1982 and today serves as an interest organization with 760 members. The members of SÍM are either individuals or representatives of professional associations of artists. SÍM serves as an umbrella organization of seven artists’ associations. It is the largest organization of working artists in Iceland. The goal of SÍM is to improve the salaries and conditions of artists, look out for their interests and rights. SÍM handles various projects for government agencies, appoints representatives to boards and committees, and gives advices on a variety of issues. It is a member of IAA / AIAP.

Myndstef – Myndhöfundasjóður Íslands (e. The Icelandic Visual Art Copyright Association): founded in 1991. Its mission is to take care of its members’ interests as regards copyright in cases of official republishing and exhibiting of their works and to strengthen respect for copyright in the visual arts in general.

The Icelandic Art Center: promotes and supports Icelandic contemporary art internationally through grants, collaborations and projects. We facilitate professional partnerships, visitor programmes and international collaborations between artists. The Center serves as an information point for curators, press, artists and art institutions. The Icelandic Art Center is the commissioner of the Icelandic Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.

Iceland Design and Architecture: aims for progress in design and architecture in Iceland focusing on sustainable development. Its role is to facilitate and promote design of all kinds as a vital aspect of the future Icelandic society, economy and culture. Find related organisations through its website (fashion, textile, ceramics, etc.).

The Association of Icelandic Performers and Actors: a professional association of actors, dancers, singers, choreographers, set and costume designers and art students in the performing arts and has over 500 members. It is a member of FIA and takes part in Dance Passport Scheme.

Stage, or Icelandic Performing Arts Association (SSÍ): a comprehensive association of performing arts in Iceland. The association was founded in 1972. It is backed by all the professional associations of the performing arts, as well as independent theater groups, alliances and institutions within the performing arts in Iceland. The Association is the Icelandic Centre of ITI.

Sjálfstæðu leikhúsin (SL) is the Association of Independent Theatres in Iceland: comprising about 50 members. The association is a grassroots organization, supported by The Ministry of Education and Culture. Most of the groups are based in the capital Reykjavik, but there are also groups in rural Iceland. Some companies operate all the time, some do not. Like anywhere theatre groups come and go but a strong base of around 25 groups is now in place. Provides a really useful overview of related organisations in Iceland, as well as funding for the performing arts related to Iceland.

Dansverkstæðið – work rooms for choreographers: started in 2010 by a group of choreographers who wanted to improve the working conditions of dance artists. Dansverkstæðið rents out studios to performing artists of all kinds; dance, theatre, opera and circus. Reykjavík Dance Festival, The Icelandic Association of Professional Dancers and other dance organizations are based in Dansverkstæðið, making Dansverkstæðið a lively meeting place and home for the freelance dance scene in Iceland.

STEF (Composers’ Rights Society of Iceland): a non-profit collective rights management society that administers Icelandic and international copyrights for music creators and publishers whose music is performed in public.

Iceland Music: the Music Export office for Iceland, and it is a member of EMEE. It hosts a business directory of the Icelandic music industry.

The EEA and Norway Grants: support to the cultural sector follows the Europe 2020 strategy and contributes to smart and sustainable growth. The funding facilitates cultural cooperation, strengthens the focus on cultural dialogue, our cultural diversity and the promotion of fundamental rights and freedoms.

The Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture (NDPC): is a governmental initiative which brings together national authorities, practitioners from cultural and creative industries (CCI) and experts. It works towards a stronger, more competitive and more resilient CCI sector that contributes significantly to the sustainable development of the Northern Dimension region (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, the Russian Federation and Sweden).

Nordic Culture Point: is an institution of the Nordic Council of Ministers which works to support Nordic co-operation within the area of culture and to increase awareness of Nordic culture in Finland.

Nordic Culture Fund: works to support innovative and dynamic artistic and cultural life in the Nordic Region that is diverse, accessible and of high quality. Through this mission, we wish to stimulate the development of art and culture at all levels in the Nordic region, as well as in a global context.

Baltic Nordic Circus Network (BNCN): a collaborative network of 20 circus arts organisations in the Baltic and Nordic countries. BNCN organises activities which aim to support the circus field in the Baltic-Nordic countries at large. From workshops to seminars to international residencies – for both artists and industry professionals focus on skills development, best practice, increased knowledge and cooperation as well as cultural and national identity.