Who can apply?
Q: Who can apply for funding from the exhibition scheme?
The exhibition scheme welcome applications from museums, art centres and non-commercial exhibition venues.
Q: Can history and cultural museums apply for funding when creating an exhibition that includes Danish art?
Yes. History and cultural/general museums fall within the ‘museum’ category. If the art to be presented is curated in a way that relates directly to the collection found in the given museum, it will be possible to apply for funding via the exhibition scheme.
Q: When submitting applications from history and cultural museums, must the museum have one or more employees with a background in art history?
If you want to create an art exhibition at a venue which otherwise focuses on cultural/historical/general matters, it is essential to provide an account of the professional basis and background of the curator(s) in question. Many original and successful exhibitions have been created by curators with a background in fields other than art and art history. Thus, such applications will be welcomed, but is important that the application materials include an account of the professional and relevant skills of the people who will create and develop the exhibition.
Q: Can artists apply for funding from the exhibition scheme?
No. The foundation has decided that only applicants attached to an art institution can apply for funding from the exhibition scheme. The institution need not be large, but the set-up must have an institution as applicant. It is perfectly acceptable to have artists attached as curators or in similar capacities in connection with the exhibition in question, but the actual applicant must be an institution or organisation.
Q: Can non-Danish institutions apply for funding from the exhibition scheme?
The foundation is happy to support non-Danish institutions provided that a Danish artist is included in the exhibition. This also applies to catalogues: if you plan to create an exhibition outside of Denmark featuring a Danish artist and are interested in creating an accompanying publication, you can apply for support for this under the Publications category.
Q: Can the same institution apply for several exhibitions within each application deadline?
The foundation prefers applicants to prioritise their applications; the exhibition scheme is aimed at individual exhibitions, not entire exhibition programmes.
Q: How would the foundation respond to two different institutions applying to arrange exhibitions featuring the same artist, for example one in Aarhus and another in South Jutland?
We look favourably on collaborations. Such arrangements can promote synergy and sustainability while also giving a larger audience the opportunity to enjoy and benefit from the exhibition.
The foundation would not take the position that only one institution can receive support in cases where several institutions feature the same artist. What is important is that your application material should make a good argument for why you want to carry out a particular exhibition project with a particular artist, or several artists, and focus on that.
Q: If several institutions collaborate on an exhibition that will be shown at several venues, should they apply jointly?
Applying separately for a joint exhibition project is not out of the question, but the foundation will look favourably on a joint application.
Q: Can you apply for funding for the same project twice if your application is refused the first time?
The board goes to great lengths to process each and every application and makes their decision based on careful consideration. This means that significant changes must have been made to the project if, upon having received a refusal, you wish to submit another application pertaining to the same exhibition project.
Financial/budgetary aspects
Q: What is the financial scope of the exhibition scheme? How large an amount can each individual applicant apply for, and what is the total annual distribution budget?
For this first round of applications, the board has decided to set aside DKK 30 million for distribution. We encourage applicants to submit their full exhibition budget with a detailed statement of the various expenses and to apply for the financial support relevant to the scope of their project. Having such an overview will give the board the best possible basis for distributing the funds and for assessing, in each individual case, how the foundation might best provide its support.
Q: Are there any special requirements for the level of detail provided in the budget submitted with the application?
We encourage applicants to enclose a quite detailed budget, meaning that it should include items such as shipping, insurance, communication, educational initiatives, exhibition scenography, etc. This will give us the opportunity to identify and select specific expenses that we can appropriately and meaningfully support.
Q: Do applicants need to provide their own funding for the exhibition? If so, how big should that share be?
We have not set firm requirements on the scope of the applicants’ own contribution to the total budget, but all applicants must provide some co-financing for the exhibition. The foundation also likes to see applicants apply for and receive funding from other foundations.
Q: Can the hours put in by permanent staff be counted as part of the applicant’s co-funding?
Salaries for permanent employees occupy a grey area between day-to-day operation and self-financing. You are welcome to state the expected expenditure on such salaries to provide an indication of the scope involved. The foundation prefers to see co-financing beyond the scope of employee time.
Q: How does the foundation expect an artist-run venue, or smaller, non-commercial exhibition venue, to generate income that can be used for self-financing?
Obviously, different exhibition venues have very different financial situations and, as is also evident in the foundation’s principles, we take into account the diversity found on the art scene. In such cases, we recommend that your application includes an account of the day-to-day operating framework and budgets available to you, explaining your institution’s circumstances.
Miscellaneous
Q: According to the call for applications, it seems that dissemination/communication/educational initiatives is a major focus area. Is that correct?
Yes. Our strategy is headlined Living art for living people, reflecting our founder, Carl Jacobsen’s, vision of having art play an active part in society. Art must reach and move an audience. Dissemination and communication activities can be many things. But we do encourage applicants to explain how you intend to ensure that your project reaches an audience and connects with it.
Q: If you happen to be a smaller exhibition venue that presents three or four exhibitions per year, should you then select which one your application concerns, or is it possible to apply for support for all exhibitions at once?
The foundation does not support exhibition programmes, so you will need to prioritise which exhibitions are most important to you and state so clearly if you apply for support for several different exhibitions within the same application deadline.
Q: How does the New Carlsberg Foundation’s exhibition scheme differ from other well-known foundations that also distribute funding for exhibitions?
The board’s intention with this new scheme is to be as open and responsive as possible to potential applicants, which means that we do not wish to lay down too many criteria or restrictions in advance. We greatly look forward to receiving your applications, and our processing will also be a learning experience for us, helping us form a clearer view of what is needed.
Q: Can we submit applications to the same funding scheme several times within the same calendar year? Can we apply twice in a row?
Yes, you are welcome to do that. There will be two annual application rounds, with one in 2023 and two each in 2024 and beyond. You cannot apply for funding for ongoing exhibition projects. The project must be an upcoming exhibition project.
Q: If an exhibition run begins at some point between the application deadline and before the applicant receives a response to their application, will it be regarded as an ongoing exhibition?
Applications within this window – i.e. when an exhibition is scheduled to open after the application deadline, but before funding is awarded – are allowed. However, the foundation does not accept applications for exhibitions that are already ongoing at the time of application.