Performing Arts Fund 2025: Budget Constraints Limit Support for Outstanding Projects
The Performing Arts Council has allocated grants from the Performing Arts Fund for 2025. This year, 12 professional performing arts groups will receive grants totaling ISK 98 million. Additionally, 102 months from the Performing Artists’ Salary Fund, valued at over ISK 57 million, have been awarded. Combined with 98 months allocated to individuals through Artists’ Salaries, the total funding exceeds ISK 155 million.
Minister Highlights the Importance of Cultural Accessibility
Logi Einarsson, Minister of Culture, Innovation, and Higher Education, addressed grant recipients during the allocation ceremony, emphasizing the need to ensure access to culture:
“In the government’s policy, priority is given to increasing access to cultural life for all Icelanders, regardless of their financial situation or location. It will be my top priority to implement measures that enhance accessibility.”
Fewer Projects Supported Than Before
Only 12 projects were awarded grants this year, marking the lowest number of supported projects in the past decade. By comparison, 19 projects were funded in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the performing arts sector. During the pandemic years, 2020–2022, the number of supported projects temporarily increased due to additional funding. Now, despite numerous exceptional applications, the number of funded projects has significantly decreased.
Hafliði Arngrímsson, Chair of the Performing Arts Council, underscored the seriousness of the situation in his speech:
“The role of the Performing Arts Council is to strengthen the performing arts in Iceland and to serve as an advisory body to the Minister. We have done our utmost in this regard, striving to allocate grants and salaries to the best applications. (I am, of course, referring to the content and vision of the applications, not merely the documents themselves.) It was not an easy task. A total of 115 groups applied for ISK 1.7 billion, but only ISK 100 million was available. This is a distressing and unacceptable situation.”
The Key Issue: Increased Funding
Hafliði highlighted that investment in culture is among the most rewarding investments a government can make:
“The key issue is increased funding. Such investments involve neither risk nor waste, as creative arts, including the performing arts, yield significantly higher returns than the initial investment. Research in countries we compare ourselves to has confirmed this, and studies here in Iceland show the same – every ISK 1 million invested in culture generates ISK 3 million in returns.”
He also stressed the importance of strengthening the foundation of the performing arts sector:
“The Performing Arts Fund, alongside Artists’ Salaries, is the only fund in the country that exclusively supports diverse and independent performing arts. Despite this, the fund’s weak financial state undermines continuity and fails to ensure adequate opportunities for newcomers.”
Two Major Projects Ahead
Hafliði pointed to two pressing projects that need to be finalized:
1. The Performing Arts Policy: “Significant effort has been put into developing this policy, which is essential as a roadmap for the performing arts sector and for policymakers. It provides critical oversight, enhances predictability, and keeps stakeholders focused.”
2. The National Opera: “It is unacceptable that Iceland is one of only three countries in Europe without a year-round opera. Establishing a National Opera would be as momentous as the founding of the National Theatre and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra 75 years ago.”
Funded Projects
• Handbendi Brúðuleikhús ehf.: Rót/Rooted receives ISK 24 million, including ISK 10.56 million from the Performing Arts Fund and 24 months from the Salary Fund.
• Menningarfélagið Tvíeind: Sérstæðan receives ISK 22 million, including ISK 11.92 million from the Fund and 18 months from the Salary Fund.
• Áhugafélagið Díó: Jötungíma kveður – minningarorð um mannkyn receives ISK 18.5 million, including ISK 10.66 million from the Fund and 14 months from the Salary Fund.
• Elefant, félagasamtök: Þegar ég sé þig, sé ég mig 2.0 receives ISK 15 million, including ISK 13.88 million from the Fund and 2 months from the Salary Fund.
• Menningarfélagið MurMur: Púðlusafnið receives ISK 14.5 million, including ISK 6.66 million from the Fund and 14 months from the Salary Fund.
• Svipir ehf.: Bústaðurinn receives ISK 13 million, including ISK 3.48 million from the Fund and 17 months from the Salary Fund.
• Sviðslistahópurinn Óður: Lucia di Lammermoor receives ISK 13.05 million, including ISK 5.77 million from the Fund and 13 months from the Salary Fund.
• Miðnætti leikhús: Hreiðrið receives ISK 12 million from the Performing Arts Fund.
• Felix Urbina Alejandre: Song of the Rebel Flower (Látið blómin tala) receives ISK 11.6 million from the Fund.
• Kammeróperan ehf.: Il Tabarro og Gianni Schicchi by G. Puccini receives ISK 6.47 million from the Fund.
• Haltáketti, félagasamtök: VENUS: Ásmundarsalur receives ISK 3 million from the Fund.
• Barnamenningarfélagið Skýjaborg: Freedom of Speech – European youth collaboration project receives ISK 2 million from the Fund.
More information on the allocations can be found on Rannís’ website.
📷 Photo: Valgarð