Council shares out NOK 95,000 from state culture fund

Longyearbyen lokalstyre (the local council) is taking applications until 11 November for NOK 95,000 from Regionale kulturfond (the regional culture funds), a state grant scheme for local cultural life. Clubs, associations, businesses and others registered in Enhetsregisteret (the Central Coordinating Register for Legal Entities) and active in Longyearbyen can apply.

The money is for cultural work: artistic activity, concerts, performances, exhibitions and festivals. It cannot pay for investment in or upkeep of buildings and facilities, or for anything that is mainly sport or outdoor recreation.

The NOK 95,000 is Longyearbyen's share of a national fund. For 2026 the state put NOK 70 million into it for the whole country, divided between the 15 counties and Longyearbyen. The scheme started in 2025 with NOK 75 million for the counties and NOK 100,000 for Longyearbyen. The government wanted to cut it to NOK 40 million for 2026, but the Storting (the Norwegian parliament) set it at NOK 70 million.

Kultur- og likestillingsdepartementet (the Ministry of Culture and Equality) sets Longyearbyen's amount by a formula. It takes the average sum per resident in Finnmark, the highest of any county, and multiplies it by the number of people living in Longyearbyen.

Recipients must report on the project and its accounts by the date in their grant letter. The council can claim back money that is not used as agreed.

Applications go through an online form linked from the council's notice. The contact is Carina Borch Abrahamsen, head of the council's culture and sport unit.