International Visitors Programme for Institutions

OCA’s International Visitor Programme for Institutions provides funding for Norwegian art institutions to host international experts — including curators, critics, writers, researchers, press representatives, programmers, and institutional leaders — for structured professional visitors' programmes in Norway.

This support scheme is administered by OCA on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as part of the ministry's effort to professionalise Norway’s delegate programmes within the Norwegian Arts Abroad (NAA) network.

The scheme aims to increase:

• Visibility for contemporary art from Norway
• International networks and long-term professional relationships
• Demand for Norwegian artists to exhibit abroad
• International press coverage for biennials, exhibitions, and other professional gatherings throughout Norway

Applications may be submitted by:

• Professional art institutions and organisations that host biennials, exhibitions and other professional events and gatherings in Norway
• Art institutions, including museums, kunsthalles, art associations, art centres, residency institutions, and visual arts organisations
• Organisations and structured programme platforms that regularly engage international art professionals

Priority is given to:

• Established biennials and festivals with recurring professional delegate or research programmes

• Institutions hosting expert visits directly linked to upcoming exhibitions, large-scale programmes, or curatorial research cycles highlighting contemporary a rt from Norway

• Projects consisting of contemporary art professionals and artists

OCA will, when prioritising, consider the overall economy of the institution applying and reliance on support for the application activity. Applications for activities that can be assumed to be part of the applicant’s regular operating budget /or core institutional funding will not be prioritised.

3.1 Eligible activities

The scheme supports incoming expert visits for purposes such as:

• Meetings with artists, curators, institutions and other art professionals in Norway
• Press coverage of exhibitions and programmes in Norway
• Participation in organised professional gatherings or thematic programmes aiming to expand international networks and relations

3.2 Eligible costs

OCA can cover costs such as:

• International travel
• Accommodation
• Local transport in Norway for the invited experts
• Costs directly related to the execution and coordination of the visitor programme, including direct administrative costs.

3.3 Costs not covered

The scheme does not provide support for:

• Visitor honoraria or fee to the professional visitor or press
• General institutional salaries or administrative overhead
• General visits not connected to a specific festival, biennale, exhibition or structured research or expert programme
• Residencies

Institutions must provide:

• Project description – the project description should state the programme's purpose and intended outcomes, including when the programme will take place and suggested activities (meetings, studio visits, institutional visits, curatorial research activities, etc.)
• List of proposed visitors with short bio/info about the visitors
• Budget – outlining the spending of funding

Institutions are expected to be in dialogue with relevant Norwegian missions abroad when proposing expert visitors. Applicants are advised to inform about potential contact with the MFA mission (embassy, consulate, etc.) in the land/region where visitors are proposed.

Applications are assessed by OCA, based on:

• Relevance and quality of the proposed programme
• The significance of the invited visitor(s) to the Norwegian contemporary visual arts field
• Potential long-term impact on networks and professional exchange
• The institution’s track record in hosting professional visits
• Budget and economy of the institution applying

OCA assessments are done by a selection committee. The selection committee is put together from OCA employees working with communication, Visits & Networks and the Director. The formal decisions are taken by the OCA Board.

In 2026, there will be three deadlines: 1 March, 1 June and 1 December

All applications must be submitted in English.

A short report must be submitted within two months after the completed visit, including:

• A brief summary of the visit and key activities
• Outcomes and follow-up plans, including contact with Norwegian missions
• Project accounts specifying the use of funding
• Press coverage, promotion of the event and/or documentation (if applicable)

Institutions are encouraged to share reports with the relevant Norwegian missions, in line with the MFA's expectations for dialogue and follow-up.

Failure to submit a report will make the institution ineligible for future support and the grant will have to be reimbursed OCA.

Institutions must credit OCA - Office for Contemporary Art Norway and MFA in all materials related to the visit, including press releases, websites, and social media.

The credit should include OCA's and MFA's logos and be as follows:

Supported by OCA – Office for Contemporary Art Norway and The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The handling of personal data follows the same principles as outlined in OCA support schemes and are in compliance with GDPR Articles 5, 6, and 13.

If you wish to appeal an individual decision made by OCA regarding grants or administrative assessments, the appeal must be submitted in writing to OCA within three weeks of receiving the decision. The complaint should be justified on the basis of the information OCA has used in making the specific decision. Only errors in administrative decisions and decisions based on incorrect facts can be appealed. Priority within budget for support and in line with assessment criteria are not a basis for complaint.

If the conditions for processing the complaint are met, OCA's administration may either reverse the decision or forward the complaint to the relevant appeal body. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the appeal body for International Visitor Programme for Institutions. The decision of the appeal body is final and cannot be appealed further.