General Information
Technical Information
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has contributed to the report. The Norwegian National Commission for UNESCO, which acts as a link between civil society and the Government, has also been invited to participate in the drafting of this report. The Commission has also been invited to comment on a draft version.
As stated in Norway's first and second periodic quadrennial reports, submitted in 2012 and 2016, Norwegian cultural policy is considered to be inherently in line with the Convention and its spirit, and no specific measures with the explicit, stated aim of implementing the Convention are implemented as such. Instead, the totality of various cultural policy measures and initiatives contribute both directly and indirectly to its implementation, without necessarily using it as an explicit or specific reference. This has been the case with Norwegian cultural policies since the 1970s; the Convention did not precede their formulation. The Convention is however subject to a continued and strong commitment and constitutes a highly pertinent and relevant framework and point of reference, especially in international cooperation.
The reporting period examined in this report saw the presentation of the Government's first comprehensive White Paper on cultural policy since 2003. In the new White Paper, which was presented to the Parliament in December 2018 after a substantial, open and inclusive process involving close dialogue with the cultural sector, civil society organisations and other stakeholders, the Norwegian Government highlighted the inherent contribution of art and culture to human rights and a thriving democracy and renewed its strong commitment to actively promoting the freedom of speech and expression, including the freedom of artistic expression. These are key priorities also for the Government's commitment to international cooperation in arts and culture.
They key objective for Norwegian cultural policy and the national implementation of the Convention is to ensure a free and independent cultural sector that creates artistic and cultural expressions of the highest quality; that promotes education and critical reflection; that safeguards and disseminates cultural heritage; that creates and disseminates a cultural offer that is perceived as relevant and representative of the population; that is accessible to everyone and that encourages individuals to experience and take part in cultural activities; that offers meeting places and builds communities; that renews itself and demonstrates a capacity of change and transformation; that has international impact and promotes intercultural dialogue; and that strengthens Norwegian language, the Sami languages, the national minority languages and Norwegian Sign Language as fundamental bearers of culture.
The Government's stated aim is to ensure a cultural life where a diversity of actors provide varied arts and cultural experiences to as many people as possible. The Government aims to strengthen the independent and fringe cultural sector and to encourage innovation in the field of art and culture. It is important that artists and cultural workers enjoy access to good and stable grant schemes. Arts and cultural institutions that contribute to strenghtening cultural diversity will be prioritised.
The Norwegian Government views the development and implementation of media policies in close connection with cultural policy, and is strongly committed to facilitating a broad and enlightened public discourse in the entire country.
Emerging and existing challenges, measures and initiatives are continually under review and development through monitoring and evaluation initiatives as well as consultations with stakeholders, government authorities and civil society organisations.
We also refer to the numerous measures and initiatives described in Norway's first (2012) and second (2016) quadrennial periodic reports. The majority of these are still in operation and under implementation, but are not described in the present report. For reasons of clarity, monetary amounts are listed in Norwegian Kroner (NOK) with the exception of the total public budget for culture.
Organization type | Organization | Website | |
---|---|---|---|
Public Sector
| Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
| post@mfa.no
| http://www.mfa.no
|
Civil Society Organization (CSO)
| Norwegian National Commission for UNESCO
| natcom@unesco.no
| https://unesco.no/eng-child-page/
|
Goal 1 - Support Sustainable Systems of Governance for Culture
Cultural and Creative Sectors
White Paper on Cultural Policy: The Power of Culture – Cultural Policy for the Future. Report no. 8 (2018-2019) to the Storting (Meld. St. 8 (2018–2019) Kulturens kraft – kulturpolitikk for framtida)
Governmental expenditure on cultural purposes in the Norwegian Ministry of Culture's budget for 2018 was NOK 14 billion (the corresponding figure in the county authorities and local authorities was NOK 1.6 billion and NOK 12.9 billion respectively).
The new Copyright Act of 15 June 2018
N/A
Regulations on Financial Incentives for the Production of Films and Series in Norway (also called the Incentive Scheme).
The Norwegian Film Institute allocated 297,4 million NOK from the incentive scheme in the period 2016-2020.
Menon Economics recently carried out an assignment, comissioned by The Norwegian Ministry of Culture, concerning the puclic schemes for audiovisual production. The incentive scheme was part of this evaluation.
Furthermore, Olsberg SPI performed an early evaluation of the insentive scheme inn 2017, assigned by the Norwegian Film Institute.
Menon Economics concluded (2019) that the incentive scheme is not currently directly relevant for promoting domestic culture, history and nature. The scheme might have extended effects like increased purchases of goods and services in Norway. However, such effects are not suffiently proved, especially concerning the gain for domestic audiovisual industry and related suppliers.
Menon Economics argued for a growing need to support domestic productions that are internationally oriented, rather than supporting foreign productions in Norway. On this ground, Menon Economics reccommended altering the scheme in a such a way that it should aim more at domestic productions that are internationally distributed.
The early study by Olsberg SPI (2017) assessed the scheme based on grants given in 2016, and estimated that these (two) productions generated a total of 198 million NOK in Norway, employed 142 full time equivalents (FTE) and 33,3 million NOK tax revenues. Olsberg SPI concluded that an incentive scheme with a limited ammount of grants and a narrow application period most likely will lose in competition with automatic incentive scemes in comparable countries.
The National Book Year 2019 (Bokåret 2019)
27 million Norwegian Kroner (NOK)
Media Diversity
Act relating to Transparency of Media Ownership
Proposal on Act relating to Editorial Independence and Responsibility of Editor-controlled Journalistic Media (the Media Liability Act)
White Paper on Media Support: Report no. 8 (2018-2019) to the Storting (Meld. St. 17 (2018–2019) Mangfald og armlengds avstand)
White Paper on Commercial Public Service: Report No. 14 (2016-2017) to the Storting (Meld. St. 14 (2016–2017) Kommersiell allmennkringkasting)
135 million Norwegian Kroner (NOK) per year for a period of five years.
White Paper on Public Service Broadcasting (NRK): Report No. 15 (2016-2017) to the Storting (Meld. St. 15 (2016-2017). Eit moderne og framtidsretta NRK.)
The Innovation and Development Grant Scheme for News and Current Affairs Media
20 million Norwegian Kroner (NOK) in 2020.
Entorno digital
The Norwegian Language Bank ("Språkbanken") – National Infrastructure for Language Technology
The Language Bank was established in 2010 with an annual funding of about 10 million Norwegian Kroner (NOK) a year. In 2019, the Government increased the allocation to the Language Bank by 9 million Norwegian Kroner (NOK).
The Gaming Strategy "Game Room. Strategy for computer games 2020–2022"
Government grants were increased by 10 million Norwegian Kroner (NOK) in the state budget for 2020.
The Filmbib Streaming Service and the Purchasing Scheme for Norwegian Films in Public Libraries.
1,9 million Norwegian Kroner (NOK) in 2019.
The evaluation resulted in several adjustments made to the Scheme in 2018. The most important adjustments were increased remuneration rates, extended application terms and giving permission to screen purchased films in the library.
The Purchasing Scheme for Computer Games in Public Libraries
1, 3 million Norwegian Kroner (NOK) in 2019.
Partnering with Civil Society
White Paper on the Voluntary Sector: Report No. 10 (2018-2019) to the Storting (Meld. St. 10 (2018-2019. Frivilligheita – sterk, sjøvstendig, mangfaldig).
10 billion Norwegian Kroner (NOK) in annual government grants to the voluntary sector.
Goal 2 - Achieve a Balanced Flow of Cultural Goods and Services and Increase the Mobility of Artists and Cultural Professionals
Mobility of Artists and Cultural Professionals
Flow of Cultural Goods and Services
Tratados y acuerdos
Goal 3 - Integrate Culture in Sustainable Development Frameworks
National Sustainable Development Policies & Plans
Action Plan for Inclusion and Representativity in Norwegian Films and Film Culture
Granting Estates without Heirs to Voluntary Activities for the Benefit of Children and Young People
The yearly amount available has differed between 8,1 million Norwegian Kroner (NOK) and 24, 5 million Norwegian Kroner (NOK), depending on the size of estates deemed to be without heirs each year.
An Inclusive Cultural Sector in the Nordics (2017-2019)
6 million Norwegian Kroner (NOK) in national funding, as well as 6 million Danish Kroner (DKK) in funding from the Nordic Council of Ministers.
International Cooperation for Sustainable Development
Efforts and Initiatives to Protect and Promote Cultural Rights
100 million Norwegian Kroner (NOK)
Goal 4 - Promote Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Gender Equality
The UP Development Programme for Female Filmmakers
New Legal Provisions to Strengthen Public Authoritiesʼ and Employersʼ Duty to Make Active Equality Efforts.
The Norwegian Ministry of Culture has allocated 3 million Norwegian Kroner (NOK) to the Ombud to follow up on the activity duty and to cover the Ombud's work to provide guidence on the new provisions about sexual harassment.
Libertad artística
Arts Council Norway Act (Lov om Norsk kulturråd)
Governmental Commission on Freedom of Expression
Not yet specified.
Measures and Initiatives reported by Civil Society Organizations
Emerging Transversal Issues
Challenges and Achievements
Annexes
Submission
