Organizer Information
Kiruna 2029 is the organization responsible for developing the official artistic programme for Kiruna, Sweden, which has been designated a European Capital of Culture for 2029. The initiative is led by Kiruna Municipality and works with cultural professionals, organizations, associations, and external partners to strengthen the region’s cultural identity and international collaborations. The programme aims to support cultural development, encourage European cooperation, and create opportunities for diverse artistic voices to contribute to the future of the Arctic region.
Title & Description
Kiruna 2029: Open Call for Artistic Projects and Early Ideas
Kiruna 2029 invites artists, cultural practitioners, and organizations to submit artistic project proposals or share early-stage ideas for potential inclusion in its official cultural programme. Under the overarching concept Movement – Below Ground. On Earth. In Space, the initiative explores how movement, transformation, cultural heritage, and contemporary challenges shape communities and identities.
Located in Sápmi, the traditional homeland of the Indigenous Sámi people, and the culturally diverse Tornedalen region, Kiruna is undergoing significant urban transformation connected to its expanding mining industry. The programme seeks artistic projects that respond to themes such as belonging, displacement, land rights, rural exclusion, environmental relationships, and the preservation of cultural memory.
Proposals should demonstrate a meaningful connection to Kiruna and align with the programme’s five guiding criteria: Homemaking, European Adventure, Perspectives, Finding New Ways, and Power of Culture.
Categories
All artistic disciplines are eligible. The call does not prioritize any particular art form. Potential proposals may include visual arts, photography, film and video, performance, theatre, music, literature, interdisciplinary practices, installations, and participatory or community-based cultural projects.
Eligibility
The opportunity welcomes local, national, and international applicants. International organizations may serve as lead applicants, and applicants based outside the Nordic region are not disadvantaged in the evaluation process.
The two application routes have different requirements:
- Artistic Project: Intended primarily for medium-sized and large, developed projects that can be managed by an external organization or an appropriate administrative structure.
- Test an Idea: Open to individuals and applicants developing early-stage concepts, pilot initiatives, or potential collaborations.
Projects may take place outside Kiruna, provided they establish a clear and relevant connection to the municipality and the programme’s artistic criteria. Applicants may submit multiple project proposals through an organization.
Program Benefits & Awards
Selected projects may receive financial contributions from Kiruna 2029, with funding available for up to 50% of the total project budget. The programme cannot act as the sole funder, so applicants should identify or develop additional financing.
Other forms of support may be discussed according to individual project needs. Selected projects included in the official programme will also benefit from Kiruna 2029’s communication activities and collective programme promotion. Further dialogue with selected project owners can help develop project plans, encourage knowledge-sharing, and establish collaborations within the broader cultural programme.
Funding and support are subject to the selection process and subsequent agreements; they are not guaranteed upon application.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Submit your proposal through the relevant official online application form:
Key Dates
- Artistic Project application Deadline: 31 October 2026
- Review of applications: November 2026
- Assessment and feedback: December 2026–February 2027
- Further dialogue with selected project owners: February–May 2027
- Expected agreement and contract signing: Summer 2027
- Test an Idea Deadline: 31 December 2026, with feedback provided on an ongoing basis.
Location
Kiruna, Norrbotten County, Sweden
Additional Details
Applicants should explain how their proposals relate to Kiruna’s local context and the five artistic criteria. The programme particularly values youth participation, female perspectives, Indigenous Sámi representation, and the perspectives of Tornedalian and other national minority cultures on their own terms. A fully finalized budget is not mandatory at submission, but the budget and financing plan should be as developed as possible.