ArtNexus

The ArtNexus programme aims to improve the social and economic conditions of artists in Armenia. This objective supports broader efforts to strengthen democratisation, freedom of expression, human rights, and sustainable economic development in the country.

The programme’s objectives are summarised as follows:

• Strengthen cultural policy infrastructure and international engagement – Support the development of a functioning cultural policy framework based on the needs of artists and promote Armenia’s presence and collaboration within the international cultural sector.
• Empower artists and promote inclusion – Support artists to organise collectively, access professional knowledge for sustainable practice, and expand representation and accessibility in cultural life for minorities and vulnerable groups.
• Enhance institutional knowledge and legal frameworks – Ensure that decision-making and legal bodies have the expertise to address artists’ social, economic, and legal conditions, including intellectual property rights and copyright.

The primary stakeholders in ArtNexus’ activities are professional artists and cultural practitioners. Through initiatives across various levels of society, the programme works to promote the development of a sustainable and effective cultural policy infrastructure for all artists in the country.

ArtNexus provides financial support to initiatives and organisations that contribute to the programme’s overarching objectives. The programme does not award grants directly to individual artists.

ArtNexus also focuses on:
o   Cultural and creative industries (CCI)
o   Public servants and institutions
o    Children and young people

ArtNexus collaborates with a range of actors from the programme’s key stakeholder groups to implement activities in Armenia. The activities have been developed in consultation with Armenian partners based on needs assessments, dialogue, and feedback from the programme’s first activity period (2021–2024).

Below is a list of activities carried out by the programme:

Policy Development 
ArtNexus collaborates with relevant Armenian authorities, as well as experts from Sweden and other countries, to develop cultural policy strategies, policies, and legislation that strengthen artists’ working conditions, copyright protections, and artistic freedom.

Courses and Capacity Development for Artists 
As part of the ArtNexus programme, courses are offered in entrepreneurship, organisational development, project management, and digitisation within the cultural sector.

Expanding Market Structures and Sales Networks for Artists
ArtNexus supports industry-driven initiatives aimed at strengthening the art market in Armenia, both regionally and nationally. The programme also promotes the Armenian art scene internationally, creating expanded opportunities for Armenian artists.

Promoting Increased International Collaboration 
ArtNexus runs an international peer-to-peer programme that focuses on improving artists’ conditions. The programme is based on the needs identified by the Swedish Arts Grants Committee, in collaboration with local partners and the priorities of key participants in the Armenian cultural sector.

In addition to the peer-to-peer programme, ArtNexus continues to develop artistic exchanges with Armenia’s neighbouring countries.