The purpose of the cultural grants is to support, revitalize, and promote traditional and modern Sámi culture across national borders. The grants are intended to strengthen Sámi cultural life and cooperation, and to provide an opportunity for Sámi groups, associations, and individuals to apply for cultural grants.

Individual Sámi, Sámi groups, and Sámi associations can apply for cultural grants. Cultural grant is not granted to states, municipalities, parishes, or state-funded media. Applications from members and deputy members of the Cultural Committee will not be processed. Support will not be granted to applicants who have not submitted an acceptable final report on old grants. An old grant means a project or scholarship that must have been reported on more than two years ago.

A cultural grant can be a project grant, a working grant, or a non-study grant.

• The purpose of a project grant is to support cultural cooperation across national borders. The grant is primarily awarded for activities that reach at least two countries where the Sámi people live.

• The purpose of a working grant is to support active cultural actors.

• The purpose of a travel grant is to support active cultural actors and enable them to visit places where they can promote their artistry and be inspired. Travel grants are mainly awarded for trips to other indigenous peoples.

• Budget. The applicant must state whether other grants have been applied for and awarded for the project, or whether grants are also being sought elsewhere.

• Financial plan

• Description of the project content

• Work plan

• Schedule and possible travel plan

• Images, audio recordings, writings, or other materials that explain the project's content or results.

• Introductory text about the applicant and artist CV

• Description of the content and goals of the work

• Schedule

• Images, recordings, writings, or other materials that describe the content and results of the work

• The applicant must state if he/she has applied for or received a working grant from elsewhere

• already implemented activities

• as an operating grant for associations

• for regular activities and general administrative expenses

• for investments

• for school operations or the production of educational materials

• for sports activities

• for students' school attendance

Cultural grants must be ordered for payment within six months of the award letter date. If the applicant has not ordered the grant within the specified time, the grant will be lost. The Saami Council Secretariat will pay the awarded cultural grant in accordance with the order. The grant will be paid in two parts. The first part is 85%, and it is paid at the beginning of the project. The second part is 15%, and it is paid when the Saami Council has approved the project's financial statement and report.

1. Order Form

2. De minimis Form

Applicants must highlight the name and logo of the Saami Council to indicate that the Saami Council has funded the project, trip, or work.

• An activity report, which shows the results of the activities in relation to the plan.

• A financial statement, which must present the total costs and income in a way that they are itemized according to the budget applied for. Expenses do not need to be presented in the work scholarship statement. The Saami Council does not support projects with a surplus.

• Receipts or copies thereof must be attached to the financial statement, unless they are included in the audit. If all the money has not been used in accordance with the plan, the excess must be repaid to the Saami Council.

• The grant may be canceled if its use is not reported within the deadline.

• The report must present the results of the projects, for example, in the form of images, audio files, videos, or other similar materials. The Saami Council may publish these on social media and in its reports.

The working scholarship period lasts one year, from January to December. The working scholarship must be reported no later than 3 months after the working scholarship period ends.

The report must include:

• An activity report that reports on the results of the work in relation to the plan.

• The grant may be lost if its use is not reported within the deadline.

The report must present the project results as images, audio files, videos, or other similar materials. The Saami Council may publish these on social media and in its reports.

If a project, trip, or work is delayed or changes significantly, the changes, including any new information, must be notified to the Saami Council as soon as possible and approved.

Project grant and travel stipend

If a project, trip, or work is delayed or changes significantly, the Saami Council must be provided with:

• A description of the changes to the project. The report must include a new schedule and work plan.

• A new budget

Working scholarship

If the work is delayed or cannot be carried out, the Saami Council must be notified and submitted:

1.  A description of the changes to the work. The statement must include a new schedule and work plan

The rules went into effect on 1.1.2025.