Opstart is the Nordic Culture Fund’s investment in the initial phases of artistic and cultural projects. The programme supports the joint development of new and promising project ideas, with a view to strengthening the Nordic ambitions of the projects. You can apply for up to DKK 25,000, and there is no requirement for co-financing.

Opstart has a rolling application deadline, and you will typically receive a reply within 30 working days.

What is Opstart?

Opstart is designed to give collaborative projects in the arts and culture a good start.

The programme supports projects with concrete ambitions to develop cooperation across the Nordic countries. At least two partners based in two different Nordic countries must have confirmed their participation in the project before applying, and their roles must be described in the application. If there are partners from only two different Nordic countries participating in the Opstart project, one of the concrete objectives of the project should be to widen Nordic participation. The application must clearly indicate how and which other stakeholders and from which countries the project intends to involve in the long term.

The Nordic countries are Denmark, Finland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Åland. Participation from outside the Nordic countries is also welcome.

You can apply as an individual, group, institution, association or company, as well as a public or private organisation. Opstart welcomes applications for projects with a global vision that can help create new relevance for Nordic art and cultural cooperation. Therefore, you do not need to be a resident of the Nordic Region or have Nordic nationality to apply.

Notice that Opstart does not support:

• projects that do not have a clear link to the arts and culture (for instance sporting events, business development, technological innovation, and projects within journalism and social sciences),
• school trips or research trips of individuals,
• participation of individuals and groups in events and activities, and
• fully developed projects that can apply for Project Funding. If you apply for Project Funding, do not apply Opstart at the same time but include your development phase in the Project Funding application.