15 February – 15 May – 15 September – 01 November
The Office for Contemporary Art Norway was created to facilitate and promote contemporary visual arts production from Norway, and to strengthen its international visibility and position. One of the key means by which OCA pursues this goal is by offering financial support to Norwegian artists and international artists living and working in Norway to produce work for exhibitions internationally; to Norwegian art professionals organising exhibitions and projects abroad; and to international institutions and curators to work more comprehensively and thoroughly with artists, art groups and professionals from Norway, in order to more accurately convey the critical impulse behind their work. OCA also provides artists, art professionals, curators and cultural producers with the possibility to network within the international arts community. OCA also stimulates research, programme development and initiatives that further invigorate the interest in contemporary art production taking place within Norway and by Norwegian artists working abroad.
OCA accepts applications for assessment by an international jury on four designated deadlines throughout the year. Applications are accepted from Norwegian artists, international artists with permanent residence in Norway and non-profit organisations. Priority is given to exhibitions taking place in key international art institutions and project spaces. Support is also given to solo and group exhibitions including Norwegian artists and practitioners initiated by international curators and to Norwegian art professionals organising exhibitions and projects abroad. The objective for support is to foster the visibility and consideration of Norwegian art abroad, to promote innovative artistic production, and to facilitate a creative dialogue and collaboration in the context of contemporary cultural practice.
OCA has also been allocated 03–funds for a programme of support, underwritten by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for enhancing collaboration in the contemporary art field with professional artists in a series of countries designated by the MFA. The list of countries may be accessed here. The purpose of the 03–funds is to further develop cooperation and professional networking between OCA and the constituency of artists, independent cultural producers and organisations located in or associated to such countries. This includes but is not limited to 'professional research visits by cultural producers, artists, and curators', 'short-term residencies for cultural producers and artists', 'the development of seminars, conferences, art projects, workshops, etc. that focus on the further development of professional exchange and networking between and among countries', and 'project development (and pilot projects) on an international scale.'
The funding for International Support is allocated to OCA by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After the closing of NIFCA in 2006, the Nordic Ministries of Culture have established programmes to support cultural cooperation and exchange within the Nordic region:
The Mobility and Residency Programme is an important part of the new structure for Nordic cultural cooperation. The programme focuses on mobility for artists and professionals within the fields of culture, network building and artists in residence. This initiative aims to open doors for the arts inside and outside the Nordic countries and contribute to strengthening the position of professionals within the field of culture.
For grant applications related to exhibitions, projects, and exchange opportunities, in the Nordic countries, please visit their web site: www.kknord.org.