2. Bilateral Cooperation Prague 8 October 2015 Lillian Solheim, Arts Council Norway

3. Donor States Arts Council is DPP Arts Council is not DPP

4. Good news! 135 Norwegian cultural actors involved in PA 17 projects! 17 out of 19 counties represented

5. Norwegian project partners 24 partners: Two or more projects. 13 partners: More than one country. 60% are registered outside of Oslo Relatively evenly spread across sectors and type of organisation Lofotr Viking Museum is cooperating with similar museum in Lithuania. Photo: Kjell Ove Storvik

6. But… │… most issues are soved through good dialogue and good cooperation! Partner search Partner requests Travel grants Matchmaking A Czech version of Jo Strømgren’s Dance Tribute to Ping Pong was set up in Prague. Photo credit: Knut Bry

7. Evaluation of applications Use of Norwegian experts: EEA Grants Ambassadors Deeper understanding of the EEA Grants Stronger understanding between DPP and PO of cultural policy New input to our own systems of evaluation Time-consuming and labour intensive Lightbridge Toruń–Slemmestad (NO & PO). Light installations and the multimedia projections

8. Implementation issues Complicated administrative procedures Partners feel that demands concerning reporting are too large for their part Documentation – demands do not always meet Norwegian reality Reimbursement takes time Public procurement Not included in decisions Excessive interpretation of requirements Sniper’s Lake: Czech – Norwegian dance co-production. Photo: Vojtech Brtnicky

9. Norwegian and Portuguese students are creating operas in «Write a Science Opera» But… … most issues are soved through good dialogue and good cooperation!

10. Drøbak (NO) and Kuldiga (LV) are friendship cities. Through EEA Grants they could deepend their cooperation Key ingredients for for success? Communication Joint project development and planning Involvement of partners in all stages Trust Common understanding of content and strategy Common goal and vision Agreement on budget Long-term perspective

11. Cirkus Xanti (Norway) travelled with their circus tents to Portugal and Czech Republic Recommendations Ensure that the reporting requirements and administrative burden corresponds with amount granted Mid-term meetings for partners Manage expectations on all sides Relevant documents in English Involve Arts Council Norway as a DPP

12. Future plans Collect experiences and good practices: survey thematic focus groups Report published next year Final conference for Norwegian project partners Norwegian photographer Marie Sjøvold (photo credit) was exhibited during the Photo Romania Festival