Gift enhancers for Førdefestivalen
Terje Isungset - Arctic Ice Music, Førdefestivalen 2016. Photo: Geir Birkeland.
Førdefestivalen are very happy to receive funds from the gift reinforcement scheme. It feels good to get paid for the work we do towards the sponsorship market. My hope is that this award can inspire other cultural actors to strengthen this work, and not least I hope it can inspire other private donors to provide financial support for good cultural causes, says director Hilde Bjørkum in a comment on the announcement of the funds from the gift reinforcement scheme.
Here is the press release from the RIGHT/PROGRESS PARTY/LEFT/CHRISTIAN PEOPLE'S PARTY on the occasion of the award:
Facts: Førde The International Folk Music Festival receives 256,250 kroner in reinforcement of a gift of 1,025,000 kroner from Sparebanken Vest. The money will strengthen the operation of Førdefestivalen and Førdekonferansen 2016. This is the first addition Førde The International Folk Music Festival received from the gift reinforcement scheme.
- The gift reinforcement scheme thus contributes once again to reinforcing an invaluable and ever-increasing private donor joy. It is especially gratifying to see that Førdefestivalen benefit from this scheme and that private donors support this unique and important event in our county, says Bjørn Lødemel (H).
- Volunteering in Norwegian cultural life is very important. Førdefestivalen engages 350 volunteers every year, so it is extra nice that the government contributes through the gift reinforcement scheme. It means that the financing of the cultural field is not only characterized by state subsidies, but it also becomes a volunteer project between private donors and the state, which steps in with additional funds, says Lars-Svein Drabløs, county leader of Sogn og Fjordane FrP.
- It is nice to see that the money we have allocated for this scheme also finds its way to Sogn og Fjordane. Private donations give cultural life more legs to stand on, and I am pleased that the Storting is now involved and strengthening such initiatives. The donation strengthening scheme has been an important cultural policy measure for the Liberal Party to put in place for many years. I am very pleased that we have achieved this together with the government and the partner parties, and that this now benefits the Folk Music Festival, says Sveinung Rotevatn, Storting Representative (V).
- County leader of the Christian Democratic Party, Trude Brosvik, says: Christian Democratic Party is very pleased with this type of concrete outcome of the gift reinforcement scheme. It is important for Christian Democratic Party that this is a supplement to other public funding.
Førde The International Folk Music Festival is a flagship of Norwegian culture, and promotes worldwide folk music. Where spoken language can build barriers, the universal musical language opens up between ethnic groups. Therefore, the work around the festival also takes on an additional dimension in showing ways to good interaction across borders and cultures. They are worth every penny!
About the gift reinforcement scheme
Museums that receive a monetary gift from private donors can apply to the Ministry of Culture for a state gift subsidy of 25 percent. 45 million kroner has been set aside for the scheme this year. The gift subsidy scheme originally covered museums. In 2016, the scheme was expanded to include several areas of the cultural sector, such as gifts to music, literature, performing arts, visual arts and cultural cities.