Den kulturelle spaserstokken

Den kulturelle spaserstokken (DKSS) is a regional grant program administered by Trøndelag County that provides funding to municipalities to give elderly citizens better access to art and culture. The program was established as a national grant scheme in 2007, jointly funded by the Ministry of Health and Care Services and the Ministry of Culture, with the goal of facilitating increased collaboration between the culture and care sectors. From 2015, the funds were transferred to the county councils, which were given the task of financing and administering the program. For 2026, NOK 3.145 million has been allocated to the scheme. Funds are distributed to municipalities based on the number of residents over 67 years of age, with a guaranteed minimum amount. The funding is intended for professional art and cultural dissemination within all genres that provide elderly people with adapted cultural offerings in arenas where they are in daily life. The offerings should preferably be in collaboration with art and cultural institutions, artists, and other cultural actors at the local or regional level. The program is organized and operated practically by the municipalities, while the county council is responsible for receiving applications and reports from the municipalities. The program does not provide grants for catering, investments, equipment, administrative measures, planning measures, or skills development. Only municipalities in Trøndelag are eligible to apply, and municipalities receiving funds are obligated to provide an offering within Den kulturelle spaserstokken and submit a report on the activities.