Boost for Norwegian culture abroad

The Government is proposing an increase in the allocations for the promotion of Norwegian culture and Norway’s public diplomacy efforts abroad of NOK 12.8 million, to NOK 189.3 million. This includes support for cultural cooperation with developing countries. This means that the total increase in funding for cultural activities abroad since 2005 will be close to 40 per cent.

“Culture is a provocative force in all societies, and has a great intrinsic value. International cultural cooperation is a means of creating meeting places for the exchange of ideas, dialogue and new networks. Our cultural efforts make Norway more interesting as a cooperation partner and enhance its image abroad,” said Foreign Minister Støre.

“The aim of cultural cooperation with developing countries is to build up the cultural sector and create new challenging arenas for growth. Culture also promotes human rights and freedom of expression by providing a channel for alternative voices,” said Minister of International Development Erik Solheim.

“As set out in our High North strategy, we aim to support cross-border cultural cooperation and people-to-people cooperation in the north, and to promote closer contact between indigenous peoples’ organisations. We also want to strengthen cultural cooperation with Russia. In my view, this is an exciting dimension of the High North Strategy,” said the Foreign Minister.