Upcoming application deadlines: 18 December 2026, 26 February 2027, 5 July 2027, and 13 September 2027.

What is the purpose of the grant?

A key objective of the New Carlsberg Foundation is to help ensure that Danish, Greenlandic and Faroese art can be experienced by international audiences and become part of new professional and cultural contexts beyond the Kingdom of Denmark.

International art museums play a crucial role in this regard. They collect and preserve works of art and make them widely accessible through exhibitions and public engagement activities.

The Foundation therefore supports international art museums in acquiring significant works by Danish, Greenlandic and Faroese artists, thereby ensuring that these works are preserved, interpreted and integrated into an international art historical context.

The Foundation also recognizes that supporting the acquisition of Danish, Greenlandic and Faroese artworks by international museums can strengthen the international visibility and recognition of artists from these regions, create new professional connections, and open opportunities for artistic development and collaboration across borders.

In this context, the terms art and artist include visual art, design and crafts. The programme is therefore intended equally for art museums, design museums and museums of craft.

Who can apply?

International art museums, design museums and museums of craft, particularly recognized institutions with a significant position within the international museum community.

Other international museums may also apply, provided they maintain a substantial art collection and employ professional curatorial staff responsible for its care and activation.

What is supported?

Costs associated with the acquisition of significant works by Danish, Greenlandic and Faroese artists, where the works make a meaningful and relevant contribution to the museum’s existing collection.

The programme primarily supports the acquisition of individual works or coherent series of works.

What is not supported?

Expenses beyond the acquisition price itself, such as transportation, insurance, framing, installation, conservation or similar costs.

Acquisition of works that have not yet been produced.

Budget

The programme forms part of a combined budget covering acquisitions by Danish, Greenlandic and Faroese museums, acquisitions by international museums, and auction acquisitions. Each year, the Foundation determines the overall budget and decides what proportion will be allocated to international museums acquiring Danish, Greenlandic or Faroese art.

Total expenditure during the past three years:

  • 2025: DKK 57 million
  • 2024: DKK 61 million
  • 2023: DKK 58 million

Own or co-financing is not required but is welcomed as an expression of the museum’s commitment to the acquisition. The Foundation particularly appreciates transparent and well-considered financing plans demonstrating how the acquisition can realistically be completed.

Before applying

  • Museums may submit only one acquisition application per application deadline.
  • The programme primarily supports acquisitions of individual works or coherent series of works.
  • If a museum applies for several works within a single application, the same requirements and limitations for application materials apply as described below. If these limitations prevent a sufficiently detailed application, acquisitions should be distributed across several application rounds.
  • Applications that do not comply with the stated requirements will not be considered.

Assessment criteria

Applications are assessed as a whole against the following criteria:

  • The artist’s practice is significant.
  • The work is significant.
  • The work holds an important position within the artist’s overall practice.
  • The museum has a significant and recognized international standing.
  • The acquisition strengthens the international visibility, professional networks and future artistic opportunities of the Danish, Greenlandic or Faroese artist.
  • The work contributes meaningfully to the development, strengthening or contextualization of the museum’s existing collection.
  • The work is relevant to the museum’s overall acquisition strategy.
  • The museum has considered how the work will be activated within the collection.

Strategic considerations in the assessment process

The Foundation operates according to a philanthropic strategy that is reflected in its grant-making. Consequently, the following priorities may positively influence an application:

Diversity: The Foundation emphasizes broad representation within the arts. Acquisitions that promote diversity across applicants, artists, practices, media, perspectives, experiences, generations, genders and art historical narratives may be viewed positively.

Public Engagement: The Foundation seeks to make art accessible and meaningful to as many people as possible. Applications may therefore be strengthened if the work itself, or plans for engaging audiences with it, increase accessibility, relevance and public connection.

Internationalization: The Foundation aims to ensure that the Danish art scene is part of the international artistic community. Acquisitions that foster international perspectives and create new connections between Danish, Greenlandic and Faroese art and the wider international art world may be viewed positively.

Emerging Artists: The Foundation supports opportunities for the next generation of artists. Acquisitions that strengthen the professional recognition of younger or early-career Danish, Greenlandic and Faroese artists through inclusion in a museum collection may receive positive consideration.

What must the application include?

Applications that do not meet the requirements below will not be considered.

  • A single PDF file of max. 10 pages, regardless of number of works
    All application material must be compiled and submitted as one single PDF file of no more than 10 pages.*

The (max.) 10 pages must include:

  • Work details: Artist, title, year, materials, dimensions, edition.
  • Photos of the work. The visual material must have sufficient scope, size, and resolution to clearly illustrate the work. Include multiple angles if relevant, as well as detail images where they contribute to the understanding of the work.
  • Project description (max. 2 pages), describing: 1) How the work contributes to the museum’s collection and acquisition policy, and 2) The work’s position and significance within the artist’s practice.
  • Price of the work: Offer from the seller – gallery, artist, or others.
  • CV for living artists (max. one page). A CV is not required for deceased artists.
  • Financing plan: Include the New Carlsberg Foundation, as well as own funding and any other named foundations that have been or are planned to be applied to.
  • If the work is created by a deceased artist: Documentation of provenance.
  • If applying for multiple works: A prioritized list.
  • If the work is sold by a private individual: Independent expert valuation of the work.
  • If the work is sold directly by the artist at a price exceeding DKK 500,000: Independent expert valuation of the work.

After submission

  • Applicants can expect a decision approximately nine weeks after the application deadline.
  • Following the deadline, the Foundation reviews all applications and prioritizes those that best meet the programme’s requirements, criteria and strategic priorities.
  • Grants may be awarded in full, in part, or declined.
  • Decisions are communicated through the online application system.

Reporting requirements

Once the acquisition has been completed, the museum must submit:

  • A photograph of the work.
  • The work’s catalogue data.
  • Documentation of the final purchase price.

The grant will be paid once this documentation has been received and approved by the Foundation.

Further inquiries, please contact:

Application consultant, Ane Bülow, anb@ncf.dk, (+45) 31 24 61 65
Application consultant, Klara Pagh, kpt@ncf.dk, (+45) 61 69 21 12