Sweden: Applications funding for for cultural programmes

 PARTNER DRIVEN COOPERATION

The Swedish organisation is submitting the application and is responsible for reporting its use if the application is granted. To facilitate both partners’ involvement in formulating the project proposal, the application forms and information about the call is published in English.

OBJECTIVES

The overall objective is to strengthen cooperation within the field of culture between Sweden and Botswana, China, India, Indonesia, Namibia and South Africa, with the aim to contribute to poverty reduction and equitable and sustainable global development. Each project which receives support shall contribute to creating sustainable relations between Sweden and the cooperation country. Shared ownership along with mutual interest and division of responsibility are of central importance in enabling the relationship to become self-supporting in the long term.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Organizations, institutions, government agencies and independent groups (legal person) in Sweden who produces or arranges professional art and cultural activities in all art forms, can submit applications within the call. For applications to be eligible, each project should be constituted by a partner in Sweden and a partner in the country of cooperation, and the project should be formulated jointly by both partners. To ensure the mutual ownership of the project, the application shall include a Memorandum of Understanding formulated by the partners.

FOR WHAT CAN YOU APPLY?

The Arts Council supports international cultural cooperation projects and exchanges between Sweden and Botswana; Sweden and China; Sweden and India; Sweden and Indonesia; Sweden and Namibia; and Sweden and South Africa.The project period for support may not exceed 12 months.

SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE FOR:

Travel costs
Direct costs relating to the implementation of cooperation
Salary costs (including social security) for staff working directly with the implementation of cooperation. Support for salary costs can not be granted if the applicants are private companies.
SUPPORT MAY NOT BE USED FOR:

Investment costs (purchase of materials or equipment)
Costs incurred by partners prior to the decision being taken
Salary costs for employees in private companies.
Maximum funding per project is 287 000 SEK. Additional support may also be granted for auditing costs. Funding from the partner country strengthens the reciprocity in the project, and will be an important factor in the assessment of the project. Funding from the partner country may include public and private support, as well as its own input from the partner (including salary costs). Other international funding can also be credited.

As a general rule, support can be granted only once per partnership.

APPLICATIONS

Applications are made on a special application form. The form is published on the Swedish Arts Council's website no later than six weeks before application deadline. Information on the Web is available between calls. Late or incomplete applications will not be processed.

Information in English:
http://www.kulturradet.se/sv/bidrag/internationellt/aktorssamverkan1/Applications-for-cooperation-/

Apply here:
http://www.kulturradet.se/bidrag/onlinetjanst/?id=6106

Read the first division here:
http://www.kulturradet.se/sv/bidrag/beviljade_bidrag/Bidragsbeslut-2011/Aktorssamverkansprojekt/


Additional Information:
Anna Swedmark-Westin
E-mail: anna.swedmark-westin@kulturradet.se
Telephone: 08-519264 65

Anna Selvåg
E-mail: anna.selvag @ kulturradet.se
Telephone: 08-519264 29

ASSESSMENT

The assessment of the incoming applications is made on the basis of whether the application gives sufficient information on the possibility for long-term cooperation without Sida funding. The Swedish Arts Council also assesses applicants based on financial capacity and operational performance. This means that each application is reviewed on the basis of the applicant organization's professional skills and qualifications to carry out the proposed activities. In addition, the applicants will be reviewed on whether they have stable and sufficient financial resources to maintain the proposed activities.

The assessment of the applications puts emphasis on the project's artistic quality and cultural policy significance. Since reciprocity and mutual ownership is one of the program's goals, priority is given projects which have financial support from both participating countries. The project shall be developed jointly in cooperation between both parties, but the application to the Swedish Arts Council shall be submitted by the Swedish partner. This means that any support granted will be paid to the Swedish partner, who is also responsible for the financial reporting of the project. Project results shall be reported jointly by both parties. Projects contributing to Sweden's overall goal of the collaboration - to reduce poverty and inequality, strengthen democracy and promote respect for human rights - will be prioritized.

The Swedish Arts Council makes an overall assessment of the project's nature and scope. Applications are reviewed based on the following criteria:

The support shall be catalytic and time-limited;
The support shall have the potential to stimulate self-sustaining partnerships with common ownership and a clear division of responsibilities, for example through cost-sharing;
The project shall relevant in relation to Sweden’s and the partner country's interests, needs and experience;
The project must be planned and implemented with a rights perspective and based on poor people's needs, circumstances and priorities.
The decision will also be guided by the priorities of each country strategy, and the project's relevance in relation to the Government's thematic priorities - democracy and human rights, environment and climate, gender equality and women's role in development - will also be examined.