Art Projects for Places
One of the key objectives of the New Carlsberg Foundation is to make art and artistic experiences accessible in the spaces and environments we share in everyday life. The Foundation therefore donates art projects and artworks to locations across the Kingdom of Denmark where the interaction between place, users, and art holds particular potential.
What is the purpose of the programme?
One of the Foundation’s most important goals is to make art and artistic experiences accessible in the environments we encounter in our daily lives.
Art in shared buildings, urban spaces, and landscapes can inspire curiosity and reflection, open up new perspectives, and create opportunities for meaningful encounters and dialogue between people.
For this reason, the Foundation donates art projects and artworks to places throughout the Kingdom of Denmark where there is particular potential in the relationship between the site, its users, and art.
Through these donations, the Foundation aims to ensure that many people, from diverse backgrounds and life circumstances, can encounter significant works of art as a natural part of everyday life and experience the value and meaning that art can bring to both individuals and society.
The Foundation also recognizes that the programme contributes to the development of artistic practice by giving artists opportunities to develop and realize site-specific projects and gain experience with the processes and collaborations such projects involve.
Who can apply?
The programme is open to municipalities, institutions, and organizations that wish to strengthen a place for its users through art. This may involve buildings, public spaces, or landscapes.
Examples of eligible applicants include:
- Municipalities and municipal institutions
- Hospitals and healthcare institutions
- Nursing homes and hospices
- Courts, judicial buildings, and prisons
- Residential care facilities, social housing initiatives, crisis centers, and shelters
- Nurseries, kindergartens, public schools, independent schools, and special education schools
- Folk high schools and continuation schools
- Sports centres, swimming pools, and sports halls
- Upper secondary schools, universities, and other educational institutions
- Churches, chapels, parish halls, and community buildings
- Libraries, cultural centres, and community halls
- Similar organizations and institutions
Applicants must either own and manage the site or be authorized to apply on behalf of the owner.
What is supported?
The Foundation donates art projects and artworks to places where the interaction between the site, its users, and art presents special opportunities.
These may include:
- Places with broad public access and large numbers of diverse users.
- Places with more limited access, where art can nevertheless make a significant difference to the people who use them.
The Foundation supports projects by either donating:
New site-specific art
New art or landscape-art projects developed specifically for the site and its users, often integrated into buildings, public spaces, or landscapes.
Existing artworks
Artworks from the Foundation’s existing collection or works acquired specifically for the site.
The Foundation determines which solution best matches the site and its users, although applicants are welcome to indicate a preference.
What is not supported?
When the Foundation donates art to places, it is always responsible for the artistic process. This means that the Foundation determines whether a site has the potential for an art project, selects the artist, and oversees the artistic development of the project.
As a result, the Foundation does not support projects where:
- The artist has already been selected.
- The type of artwork has already been determined.
- A predefined theme, commemoration, cause, named individual, or historical event restricts the artist’s freedom to develop a response focused on the site and its users.
- The art project has already begun or been fully developed.
- The application concerns the preparation of an art strategy.
Financial framework
The annual grant budget is determined each year.
Funding awarded in recent years:
- 2025: DKK 48 million
- 2024: DKK 45 million
- 2023: DKK 32 million
If the Foundation decides to proceed with a project, it is provided as a donation. The Foundation finances and gifts the artwork or art project to the site.
Applicants are nevertheless responsible for:
- Site preparation and necessary enabling works
- Related construction works
- Technical installations
- Other local measures required for implementation
Responsibilities concerning operation, maintenance, and ownership are agreed upon between the Foundation and the recipient site during the project process.
Before you apply
Please note:
- Artists, media, and themes must not be predetermined.
- The Foundation must be free to select the artist and oversee artistic development.
- Applicants must be open to the artistic process and support the artist’s ability to develop and realize ideas in dialogue with the site and its users.
- The Foundation manages project financing, project administration, contracts, budgets, communications, inauguration activities, and public engagement.
- Site-specific art projects often require considerable development time, especially when linked to construction projects.
- Typically, six to twelve months pass between the Foundation’s initial expression of interest and approval of an artist’s final proposal.
- Applications that do not comply with the requirements outlined below will not be considered.
Assessment criteria
Applications are assessed based on:
- The extent to which the relationship between the site, its users, and art offers meaningful potential.
- Whether the applicant presents a compelling vision for how art can engage with the site and its users.
- Whether the artist, medium, and theme remain open.
- The applicant’s willingness to engage in dialogue and collaboration with both the Foundation and the appointed artist.
- The applicant’s ability to obtain necessary approvals and finance site preparation and related works.
- For construction projects, the presence of a realistic project timetable.
Strategic priorities
The Foundation may also consider how a project supports its wider philanthropic priorities.
Diversity
Positive consideration may be given to projects that contribute to diversity among locations, applicant types, user groups, geographic regions, artists, artistic practices, media, perspectives, experiences, generations, genders, and narratives.
Public engagement
Projects may be viewed favorably if they have strong potential to make art more accessible and meaningful, either for broad audiences or for smaller user groups who may benefit particularly from access to art in everyday life.
Internationalization
The Foundation may appoint international artists to realize projects within the Kingdom of Denmark, creating opportunities for people to encounter significant international art while strengthening connections between local and international artistic communities.
Emerging artists
The Foundation also aims to support younger and early-career artists by providing opportunities to develop and realize ambitious site-specific projects.
What must the application include?
The following information must be entered into the Foundation’s application system:
- Description of the site
- Description of the users
- Description of what art is intended to contribute to the relationship between the site and its users
- Photographs, visualizations, maps, plans, or similar supporting materials
- Information about the applicant organization and responsible decision-makers
- Details of any required permits, if applicable
- Project timeline, if connected to a construction project
After submission
Applicants can normally expect a response approximately nine weeks after the application deadline.
The Foundation reviews all applications and prioritizes those that best match the programme’s requirements, assessment criteria, and strategic priorities.
If the Foundation identifies strong potential:
- A dialogue is initiated with the applicant.
- Foundation staff visit the site.
- An artist may be selected to develop a proposal.
- If both the site and the Foundation approve the proposal, implementation can begin.
For donations of existing artworks, the Foundation prepares a proposal for artwork selection, placement, and installation.
Reporting requirements
A donated art project may involve contractual obligations regarding responsibility, operation, and maintenance.
The Foundation often provides interpretive and educational materials alongside the artwork. Recipient organizations are therefore expected to share ongoing feedback about how users engage with the artwork and related activities, enabling the Foundation to improve and refine future public engagement initiatives.
For questions and guidance please contact:
Ane Bülow, anb@ncf.dk, +45 31 24 61 65
Klara Pagh, kpt@ncf.dk, +45 61 69 21 12
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Apply here
Application category: Art for Places – Art Projects for Places
Upcoming deadlines 18 December 2026, 12:00 noon and 5 July 2027, 12:00 noon
Applicants can expect to receive a decision approximately nine weeks after the relevant deadline.
