We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone for the Nordic-Baltic ASSITEJ Network – the Nordic Culture Point and its Demos administrative funding expert group have decided to award our application a grant of €200,000 for the years 2025–2027. The aim of the funding is to strengthen professional performing arts for young audiences (TYA) in the Nordic region.
The Nordic-Baltic ASSITEJ Network (NBAN) is a regional network within ASSITEJ International. The network consists of the national ASSITEJ centres of the eight Nordic-Baltic countries. The NBAN has a long history of collaboration. The regular operations of NBAN include information sharing, advocating for TYA in the region and worldwide, creating exchange and work opportunities for TYA professionals, and improving children’s and young people’s access to art and culture.
With the Demos administrative funding, we will be able to hire a part-time project leader and enhance our dissemination channels and platforms, as well as the organization and facilitation of workshops, meetings, and joint initiatives across borders, ultimately enhancing youth participation and democratic engagement through the arts.
Over the next three years, we will host several Nordic-Baltic initiatives both within and outside the region. We will organize workshops, masterclasses, and residencies for our members, as well as other TYA professionals and youth. We will also participate in ASSITEJ International’s events and festivals within our network. Special emphasis will be placed on supporting artistic freedom for TYA artists, democracy building, and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) topics in the Nordic region.
This is the first time in ASSITEJ’s history that a regional network has received such significant funding for its administration. For the first time, a regional network will have a hired staff member and its own office. The offices of the network will be in Finland for the next three years, as ASSITEJ Finland is legally administering the funding. We hope that this is just the beginning and that the work done in the next three years will lead to the establishment of a permanent administration for NBAN and will have several positive impacts on the TYA field in our region and worldwide.
We are grateful for this support and will continue our work towards a diverse, equitable, and sustainable Nordic TYA, ensuring every child’s right to access culture through festivals, workshops, seminars, and collaborative projects.
