Support local internationalization
Internationalization is demanding for a local cultural sector. It is traditionally geared towards Norwegian language, Norwegian heritage and representation of Norwegian arts. This perspective characterizes public funding and the administration of the Norwegian arts- and cultural sector, of which local cultural life is a part.
The cultural infrastructure, such as the libraries, the culture school and museums, are of course open to everyone, and the institutions put their efforts into ensuring that new groups in society will find the offers attractive. When internationalization proceeds rapidly as it does in Arendal at the moment, whether due to large labor needs or other immigration, the cultural sector lags behind in its offer. Even institutions such as cultural houses, festivals and galleries are caught between their more secure, Norwegian program and the desire to provide for an interesting offer to all those who now settle here.
In Arendal, all the cultural leaders have joined together in Art27Arendal to discuss the internationalization of program work and the development of a better international network. Arendal must continue to be a community that protects artistic rights. This applies to both people's participation in art production and the artists' freedom of expression. This is how they want to ensure that the cultural sector remains a good driving force and arena for democratization in the local society.
In Art27Arendal, the cultural leaders will collaborate with other groups in civil society, such as businesses and the voluntary sector. Art27 wants to establish a local fund facility for international cultural production and cultural participation in Arendal. The fund will contribute to ensuring that the cultural offer is developed in line with Arendal's internationalization.
This requires an effort beyond the public support that are traditionally provided for Arendal's arts and culture offerings. The fund will be managed and distributed by Art27Arendal, following applications from institutions, organizations and artists based in Arendal. So, the cultural leaders have therefore established a joint facility whose sole task is to promote the internationalization of cultural life in Arendal, and asks for support!