Kulturfonden för Sverige och Finland - Cultural Fund for Sweden and Finland

Cultural Fund for Sweden and Finland grant

You will receive up to 5,000 EUR (about 50,000 SEK) for a single project linking Sweden and Finland. Most grants awarded range between 500 and 2,000 euros. The funding covers events, research, exhibitions and similar activities. As a rule, this covers the additional costs associated with cross-border work, such as travel, accommodation and venue hire. The fund also offers short-term travel and residency grants to cover a stay abroad, enabling you to establish contacts or get to know the other country. The fund was established in 1960 by the Swedish and Finnish governments and is financed from the returns on its own capital.

Who can apply

• Who you are: You are applying either as an individual or on behalf of an organisation, an association or an institution.
• Age: You are at least 18 years old.
• Your project: It has a clear connection to Sweden and Finland and promotes contact or exchange between the two countries in the fields of culture and society, for example in literature, music, film, design, cultural heritage, media, language or education.
• Timing: Your project had not yet started or had not yet been completed at the time of your application.
• Where you live: You should submit your application in the country where you live. If you do not live in either Sweden or Finland, please contact one of the two secretariats (the bodies responsible for administering the fund) in the first instance.
• What is not funded: Regular training, stays abroad, work placements as part of training, sporting events, construction work and the purchase of equipment are not eligible for funding.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the Fund’s Rimbert portal. If you are based in Finland, the application window for 2027 projects runs from 7 September to 1 October 2026. You will receive written notification once the committee has met in November or December. The Swedish secretariat accepts applications throughout the year. Each application is assessed by at least two expert reviewers before the committee makes a decision.

How realistic are your chances?

The fund focuses on one thing: a genuine, tangible link between Sweden and Finland. If your project clearly promotes exchange between the two countries and remains within the usual budget of a few thousand euros, your chances are good. Applications for more than 5,000 EUR will not be given priority. A clearly defined project with specifically named partners on the other side stands out more than a broad or vague plan.