Norad Programme in Arts and Cultural Education

ACE offers support to cooperation projects between institutions for higher cultural education in the South and in Norway. Among the activities supported through the programme are scholarships for students at Diploma, BA and MA level at institutions in the South, in Norway or in combination ( sandwich model ). ACE also supports development of networks between institutions for cultural higher education in the South.

The programme is financed by Norad and managed by SIU. The total budget frame for the current programme period is NOK 15 million.

Objectives

• To establish models for cultural education that lead to formal qualifications for the students.
• To contribute to the development of art and culture as sources of income for graduates and cultural institutions.
• To strengthen the competence and independence of cultural institutions involved, by contributing to the development of professional cultural arenas and networks in Norway’s main partner countries and between countries in the South.
• To contribute toward gender balance among students.

Eligible countries
The following geographical areas are eligible for support by ACE:

• Countries with which Norway has signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the cultural sector.
• Norway’s main partner countries for development cooperation:
  • Malawi
  • Mozambique
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Bangladesh
  • Nepal
• Consideration may be given to partner countries in which Norway is active in the cultural sector, if special reasons for such cooperation exist.

Prioritised thematic subjects

• Visual arts/sculpture
• Dance
• Design
• Music
• Theatre/drama
• Cultural heritage

The timeframe for the current programme period is 2006-2008/09 with a possible extension to 2010 for ongoing projects. Decisions concerning the programme is made by the Programme Board for Scholarship Programmes Administrated by SIU.

The next call for applications will be announced in 2008.