Government support to musicians doubles
Mari Boine, a Sami artist, has been among the musicians who have benefitted from the arrangement.
Concerts Norway, an organization dedicated to producing and promoting concerts throughout Norway, wants to spread Norwegian music.
In connection with the reorganization of the Norwegian Concert Institute’s (Concerts Norway) public concerts, funds have been transferred from Concerts Norway to benefit programs for musicians and promoters under the Norwegian Arts Council.
“Our wish is that more musicians are able to go on tour, and will dare to take on smaller sites and other concert venues. In addition to the change, we want to spread music throughout Norway,” said the Minister of Culture Anniken Huitfeldt to Dagbladet.
This arrangement for musicians will be strengthened by 7.3 million NOK in 2012. This will happen with the transferred funds from the Norwegian Concert Institute, but there is also talk about fresh funds.
“It’s almost a doubling of support for the musicians, and the largest increase since this arrangement was established,” says Huitfeldt.
The Culture Minister highlights the importance of such an arrangement.
“The musician arrangement is popular among artists, and we get many good applications. Feedback indicates that many musicians and promoters see that the arrangement provides good results,” she says.
Under the musician arrangement, artists have the opportunity to go to concert venues they would not have been economically able to chance otherwise.
“There are incentives to get more Norwegians out on the road, with a desire that they dare to take a chance,” says Huitfeldt.
The scheme applies to established artists, as well as less established. During 2010 and 2011 the musician scheme made awards to, among others, Mari Boine, Lars Vaular, Kvelertak, Sigvart Dagsland and Thomas Dybdahl.
The musician arrangement extends to include music covering all genres. Concerts in smaller towns will be given priority, and funding comes first and foremost to tours within Norway.
“The emphasis is on Norway, but it is also possible to add some arenas elsewhere than in Norway. If an application involves a couple of stops outside the national borders, it is thus possible to be included in the arrangement. No matter what, it is positive to have many Norwegian artists out on the road,” said the Minister of Culture.
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