Do you run a residency for professional artists and culture practitioners, support their innovative artistic work, and have an ambition to create contacts in the Nordic-Baltic Region? If so, then you may send in an application now and latest 1 February 2012. The support that your residency may receive is meant for covering all the expenses directly connected to the artists that you choose to the residency. You may choose 2-4 artists or minor groups for approx. 2 moths' stay. The chosen artists have to live in another Nordic or Baltic country than the one that your residency is based in.

The Nordic Council of Ministers has extended the Nordplus programme for the period of 2012-2016. Some of the aims for the new programme is to strengthen and develop Nordic cooperation in education, and also between the Nordic and Baltic countries. The programme will contribute to develop quality and innovation in the educational systems for Life Long Learning (LLP) in the participating countries. The programme will also promote Nordic languages. One change is that the sub programme Nordplus Nordic Language and Culture will be included in Nordplus like the other programmes. This means that Baltic countries can apply for funding through the language programme. The call for proposals is now available, and the application deadline is the 1st of March 2012.

Once being the prime minister and the minister of foreign affairs of Iceland as well as participating in the first official meetings between the Icelandic and Baltic governments, Halldór Ásgrímsson is now the Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers. In an interview to the Latvian daily "Latvijas Avīze" he talked about the development and future prospects of the Nordic relations with the Baltic States. – How would you describe cooperation with the Baltic States so far? Since the beginning of the 1990s the Nordic Council of Ministers has had its offices here whereas now some talk about their closure. Is it true? Read more >

The welfare state in a Nordic perspective is the main theme of the Programme for the Norwegian Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers 2012. The Presidency will address the various challenges faced by the Nordic welfare states, and how we can meet them by looking at the structure of the welfare state and identifying ways in which the public sector can operate more efficiently. This will also include looking at co-operation between the public sector and both sides of the labour market, as well as at broader co-operation with, e.g. voluntary sector organisations,

Top diplomats discuss the past and future of Nordic-Baltic cooperation at the BDF Summit in Gdansk, October 24-26. Regional cooperation supplements and strengthens EU integration, they agree. This year, the offices of the Nordic Council of Ministers in the Baltic countries are celebrating their 20th anniversary. They were established in the wake of the Soviet breakdown and in many ways helped draw the three Baltic states back into the European mainstream. That was one of the conclusions of a discussion between Halldór Ásgrímsson, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM), and Ambassafor Raul Mälk, Estonias Special Envoy for the Baltic Sea Region. The success of the cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries has been bolstered by effective institutions like the Nordic Investment Bank and successful initiatives like the Nordplus education programme, said Halldór Ásgrímsson, when speaking of past achievements of the Nordic Council of Ministers in the Baltic states - hear more:

Nordic Baltic designers exhibition „16 steps closer” will be opened at October 13 at the Riga Arts Space. In the exhibition will be presentetd 16 brand-new ideas by well-known architects, industrial, fashion and graphic designers from Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia especially for the Nordic Baltic Designers Events. The works devoted to  one common theme – the future of the Baltic Sea – will be exhibited along with their prior artistic creations. “The exhibition ”16 steps closer” is a project dedicated to the Baltic Sea – its ecology and its future. I am convinced that at least to some extent the identity of us who live around the Baltic Sea has always been shaped by its proximity.

Dr. Lassi Heininen from Ziemeļu Stāsti on Vimeo.

Latvian Youth Policy Institute has published a resource material “The ABC of youth policy”, devised within the framework of the project “Youngsters for strategic youth policy development in municipalities” and applicable in all instances related to youth policy. The project has been implemented with financial support from the European Commission, the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Soros Foundation - Latvia. Within the project “ Youngsters for strategic youth policy development in municipalities” the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia through the Nordic-Baltic NGO program supported the activities of youth policy experts in Latvian municipalities as well as the examination of youth policies in Sweden and Estonia. Read more >

A Danish entrepreneur Lars Kolind will share his experience and the tools he used to make Oticon the world’s leading innovative and knowledge-based hearing aid manufacturer - discover a powerful tool-box for building creativity, innovation, and collaboration across the organization, learn how to unleash the growth potential in your network of employees, suppliers and customers, and understand how to uncover the true purpose of your organization and then live it.

Lars Kolind "Driving Profit through Change and Innovation" from Ziemeļu Stāsti on Vimeo.

ZMP birojs Latvijā: Sofi Oksanen from Ziemeļu Stāsti on Vimeo.

Nordic Council Literature Prize winner 2010 Sofi Oksanen in Latvia

Pia Eriksen par www.visitoslo.com from Ziemeļu Stāsti on Vimeo.

Seven months in Christiania

“Roots and Footprints: The Search for Identity in a Changing Era” - a book written by the social anthropologist Thomas Hylland Eriksen from Norway - has been published in Latvian. The book delves into the processes essential to the formation of human identity and looks into the issues of freedom and security - their mutual interaction in contemporary society. The discussion took place at the Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Latvia.

Ville Lenkkeri Pyramiden stories from Ziemeļu Stāsti on Vimeo.

The Tartu Creative Economy Centre has submitted an application to the Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programme for Business and Industry for support in organising study trips and a contact seminar in order to boost cooperation in the field of the creative economy.

As part of the support granted, a seminar will be held in Tartu on 17 & 18 June which is designed to establish a contact network of companies involved in the creative economy in the Baltic States and Nordic countries.