The fund, which is supported with a €9.5 million grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and the remaining 10% from the Polish government, support cultural projects based on cooperation between Polish players and entities from the donor states.
The purpose of the fund is to support the cultural exchange between Poland and the EEA EFTA countries, with the overall objective of strengthening dialogue and cultural co-operation. Through five open calls, grants are awarded to projects within the fields of music and performing arts, cultural heritage, plastic and visual arts, and literature and archives. The first four open calls awarded grants to 57 projects. The application deadline for the fifth and last open call was 30 April 2010.
At the launch event at Warsaw's Royal Castle, Norway's Minister of Culture and Church Affairs, Trond Giske, said Poland and Norway should congratulate each other on the opportunities the cultural exchange fund would provide. "I am positive that the fund will strengthen and broaden our cultural ties", Giske said.
Photo: Lars-Erik Hauge, NMFA