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This grant program supports master's students conducting research relevant to the Arts Council of Norway (Kulturrådet), cultural policy, and the arts and culture sector in general. The purpose is to strengthen research with relevance to cultural policy, motivate master's students to write theses on relevant topics, generate new knowledge, and recruit future researchers. The program awards up to four grants of 20,000 Norwegian kroner each year to support activities such as travel for data collection, purchase of necessary academic literature, participation in seminars, and other necessary expenses related to completing the master's project. Applicants must be enrolled in a master's program, have determined their thesis topic, and demonstrate strong academic performance with potential to pursue doctoral studies. Students with minority backgrounds or minority experiences are especially encouraged to apply.

This grant program supports research projects with relevance to the Arts Council Norway, cultural policy, and the arts and culture sector generally. The program aims to strengthen research, recruit new researchers, and strengthen existing research environments. Projects should generate new knowledge relevant to the Arts Council's mission of stimulating diverse contemporary arts and cultural expressions and making them accessible. In 2026, up to NOK 500,000 is earmarked for research focusing on Sami art and culture and/or the art and culture of national minorities, including conditions for artistic and cultural practice. The grant can cover all project costs, though universities and research organizations are expected to contribute co-financing for personnel and indirect costs. Research results must be made publicly available through open access publishing or equivalent means. Projects must start between August 1, 2026 and April 1, 2027, and be completed before December 31, 2028.

This pilot grant program provides funding to employ artists or cultural workers with disabilities in full-time positions for one year. The program aims to counteract structural discrimination by motivating employment of candidates with disabilities in the arts and culture sector. The grant amount of 460,000 NOK must be used entirely to pay the salary of the aspirant, who must be employed under ordinary conditions. Professional arts and cultural organizations can apply to hire an aspirant. The position can be related to artistic, technical, or administrative functions across all art forms and creative industries. The application must be prepared in collaboration with a named candidate and reflect the candidate's own professional motivation for the aspirant period. The goal is to provide the aspirant with tasks that ensure professional and artistic development aligned with the organization's goals and needs, thereby strengthening the aspirant's future employment opportunities in the arts and culture sector.

The Aspirant Scheme for diversity in the cultural sector provides grants to employ artists or cultural workers with ethnic minority backgrounds for normally one year. The scheme aims to counteract structural discrimination by ensuring increased access to work in the arts and culture sector for qualified applicants. Ethnic, cultural and linguistic background can constitute a barrier to recruitment for arts and culture-related professions. The grant should go entirely to paying the aspirant, and the organization must commit to providing the aspirant with tasks that ensure professional and artistic development, and which correspond to the organization's goals and needs, so that the aspirant's employment opportunities in arts and cultural life are strengthened. Professional arts and cultural organizations can apply for the grant. The scheme covers all art forms and creative industries, and the aspirant position can be linked to artistic, technical and administrative functions.