Swedish Arts Grants Committee International Exchange and Travel Grants

The Swedish Arts Grants Committee (Konstnärsnämnden) gives grants for international exchange and travel to help artists create, develop and deepen contacts abroad. For visual artists, the grants are decided by the Visual Arts Fund. They cover travel and living costs for work abroad, self-initiated research trips, and inviting foreign artists to Sweden. The current round closes at 14:00 on 2 December 2026, with decisions in January 2027. Applicants must live in Sweden or carry out most of their artistic work there.

There is no fixed maximum, but the committee does not award grants smaller than SEK 5,000.

What the International Exchange Grants Cover

Exchange and travel abroad, for example:

• Taking part in the installation and opening of an exhibition
• A working stay within an international collaboration
• A residency
• Speaking at a seminar or conference, or leading a workshop

Self-initiated trips for work or professional development, such as research, a short course, a festival or meeting collaborators.

Exchange in Sweden: inviting foreign artists to Sweden for collaboration, where the exchange is initiated by the artist, not by an institution or event organiser.

The grants mainly cover travel and living costs, and in some cases transport and participation fees, or the rent of a space for a collaboration in Sweden. They do not cover production costs, fees or salaries, and you can only apply for your own costs.

Who Can Apply for the International Exchange Grant?

• Visual artists resident in Sweden, or doing most of their artistic work there
• Foreign citizens living in Sweden
• Swedish citizens abroad, if most of their artistic activity is in Sweden

You cannot be studying more than 50% when the decision is made, and you must not have debts with the Swedish Enforcement Authority or be bankrupt.

How Applications Are Judged

After a formal check, members of the Visual Arts Fund's international group, who are practising artists or art experts, read each application. At least two people read every application, and the Visual Arts Fund makes the decision.

Budget Tips

Budget actual costs for accommodation and living expenses, not standard daily allowances. If you receive other funding for the same purpose, you must tell the committee, as the grant may be reduced. Applications cannot be completed after the round closes, so check everything before submitting.

How to Apply

Apply through the committee's e-service before the deadline. Information is mainly in Swedish, with English guidance available on the website.

Examples of Eligible Trips

A painter invited to install a solo show in Berlin could apply for travel and living costs during installation and the opening. A photographer could fund a research trip to build a new project abroad. A sculptor could invite an artist from another country to Sweden to work together for a few weeks. In each case, the grant covers getting there and living there, not the work itself, so budget production costs from other sources.

Residencies Through the Committee

The committee also runs its own international residencies for visual artists through IASPIS, its international programme for visual and applied arts, including studios in Sweden and abroad, such as in New York. These have separate calls and deadlines, listed on the same applications calendar as the exchange grants.

Things to Consider

• Sweden-based artists only.
• Travel and living costs, not fees.
• Minimum SEK 5,000.
• Deadline: 2 December 2026, 14:00.

Apply for a Grant

Planning work abroad, or a visit from a foreign artist?

Apply for an International Exchange Grant

Rules and the e-service are on the Konstnärsnämnden website.

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Last verified: November 4, 2026