Cultural Cooperation in the High North
Article | Last updated: 14/01/2026 | Ministry of Culture and Equality
The Ministry of Culture and Equality contributes to developing cultural cooperation across borders in the North. This is achieved through support for several Northern Norwegian actors’ international efforts and funding of collaborative projects. These grants support the government’s High North initiatives. Indigenous culture is a central focus.
Through grants to the BarentsKult cultural program, collaborative projects between professional Norwegian, Swedish, and Finnish cultural actors are financed. The programme is jointly funded together with the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and the county councils of Nordland, Troms, and Finnmark.
The Ministry also works to strengthen cultural cooperation in the High North through participation in the Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC), the Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture (NDPC), and the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS).
The Ministry contributes to the international Arctic Arts Summit, which supports the development of cross-border cooperation throughout the circumpolar North.
Following Russia’s unlawful war of aggression against Ukraine, High North efforts do not include cooperation with Russia at the governmental level.