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A delegation from the Lithuanian Council for Culture paid a return visit to the office of Arts and Culture Norway (ACN) in Trondheim, Norway. The Council is continuing bilateral cooperation in cultural affairs, building on the visit of a Norwegian delegation to Vilnius earlier this spring. The visit to Trondheim aimed to familiarise with the activities and environment of Arts and Culture Norway, and to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices.

Cultural institutions share activities and knowledge

The Lithuanian Council for Culture delegation included Director of the Administration Rūta Stepanovaitė, Senior Analyst at the Monitoring and Analysis Unit Martynas Tininis, and Senior Specialists at the Division of Culture and the Arts Vaida Jonušytė and Nelda Bagdonavičiūtė. Members of the Council’s administration shared their institutional activities and processes with their Norwegian counterparts, discussing the status of individual artists and efforts to enhance culture in different regions.

Head of Art Economy and Innovation Sverre Fossen kicked off the series of intensive sessions. He provided an overview of Norway’s history and the activities and processes of Arts and Culture Norway. Senior Adviser at the Art Economy and Innovation Division Martin Palmer addressed the role of artists’ organisations in Norway and their impact across the country’s regions.

Senior Specialist at the Division of Culture and the Arts of the Lithuanian Council for Culture Vaida Jonušytė expressed her thoughts on the discussions about the Norwegian cultural sector, saying “There was a meaningful discussion about the significance of artists’ organisations.” These organisations are plentiful and highly involved in Norway, frequently participating in advising on legislative matters and decisions of cultural institutions. Moreover, they play a crucial role in expertly assessing applications for artists’ grants from ACN funding. During our discussions with colleagues, we noted that Lithuania lacks organisations that advocate for the interests of creators and artists concerning wages, disputes, contracts, social guarantees, legal issues, and related matters. The recently established Art Workers' Union is a prime example.”

Integrated regional policy in Norway

Counsellor of Cultural Affairs at the County of Trøndelag Johan Fredrik delivered a comprehensive presentation on regional cultural policy. At the same time, he highlighted that funding for the cultural sector has been stagnant recently, despite increasing needs, as funding levels have remained stable for some time.

Senior Analyst at the Monitoring and Analysis Unit Martynas Tininis said “Norway’s regional policy is integrated, utilising a network of transport links and lower taxes in remote areas to achieve more even population distribution across the country. Norway is also establishing a robust network of cultural institutions to ensure that every Norwegian has access to high-quality cultural and artistic experiences, regardless of their location in the country. Grant funding programmes and a network of cultural institutions, diverse in their funding sources and ownership structures, significantly contribute to this network.”

 “Our Norwegian colleagues not only outlined the activities of their institution but also discussed the funding model and the evolution of funding for art projects and artists since 1963. Interestingly, in Norway, funding for culture and the arts operates at three levels: National, county, and municipal. In many cases, institutions have to strive to secure funding from all three levels,” said Nelda Bagdonavičiūtė, Senior Specialist at the Division of Culture and the Arts.

Focus on individual creators

Adviser for Grant Programmes at Arts and Culture Norway Adrian Aam Refsnes provided details on the funding landscape, including various programmes like the Norwegian Cultural Fund, the Audiovisual Fund, and the Government Grants for Artists. He also discussed their collaboration with other divisions of the organisation. Director of the Administration Rūta Stepanovaitė said “The meeting focused on reviewing the principles of ACN after the merger of several institutions and comparing them with the model of the Lithuanian Council for Culture.”

“Following the Norwegian Government’s decision to merge the activities of three different foundations, these foundations, along with their councils, have retained their independent operations. However, administrative tasks for the councils are now handled by a Directorate acting as a secretariat.” It’s important to note that the Directorate maintains its own operational strategy, which is submitted to the Norwegian Ministry of Culture. Once approved by all stakeholders, this strategy directs the organisation’s future needs and activities until 2030. Meanwhile, each foundation within Arts and Culture Norway has its own strategy, developed by its council members, and the priorities of these strategies can inspire all the aforementioned organisations,” said R. Stepanovaitė.

Senior Specialist at the Division of Culture and the Arts Vaida Jonušytė points out that “Norwegian grants for artists do not fund specific projects, but rather support the artist and their creative activities. Reporting on the funding received includes the works produced, exhibitions, etc. This sustainable funding model promotes trust in the artist’s work and decisions, encourages the continuity of ongoing projects rather than the constant creation of new ones, and is oriented towards long-term goals and the sustainability of activities.”

The significance of cultural data for the institution

Senior Adviser at the Department of Research and Analysis Haakon Bekeng-Flemmen presented the artist surveys, covering the methodology, collected statistics, and the outcomes of the State of the Artists Survey. He noted that “In Norway, a higher proportion of artists are women, but statistically, they earn less.” It was also observed that there is a significant disparity in earnings among artists in different fields, with half of the total funding for grants allocated to the visual arts,” said Vaida Jonušytė.

Martynas Tininis added that the Norwegian study is akin to the LCC’s Study on the Social and Creative Condition of Artists (2021) and Fair Remuneration for Creativity (2021). The difference is that the Norwegians used data from personal income tax returns. Therefore, their study may provide more accurate insights when comparing income levels among different artists.”

Visit concludes with an educational programme

The delegation also explored Trondheim, visiting Nidaros Cathedral, one of Norway’s oldest cathedrals, and the Trondheim Art Museum, which is currently undergoing a transformation. “It was fascinating to learn about the challenges involved in running a museum. “For instance, insufficient storage and exhibition space, limited patronage, and public perceptions about the museum’s role and function,” said Vaida Jonušytė.

Meanwhile, Rūta Stepanovaitė noted that during their visit to Trondheim, they encountered at least two works by Lithuanian artists in local art venues, which pleasantly surprised the delegation participants. Kunsthall Trondheim is currently hosting the solo exhibition The Goddess Helix by artist and filmmaker Emilija Škarnulytė, while the Trondheim Art Museum is exhibiting the video installation Narrative With an Unexpected Outcome by composer and visual artist Ignas Krungelevičius.

Lithuanian Council for Culture’s delegation in Trondheim Art Museum, Norway.

Bilateral cultural cooperation is funded by the European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism. The programme’s partner in Lithuania is the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania.

Learn more about Arts and Culture Norway: https://www.kulturdirektoratet.no/english