Awards, grants, and recognition

Ever year Reykjavík City gives out a number of grants for various cultural activities and three literary awards, as well as nominating a city artist each year.

City Cultural Grants

Grants are awarded annually for a wide range of artistic and cultural projects in the City. You can, among other things, apply for grants for cultural activities, individual projects, and partnership agreements for a period of 2-3 years.

You can apply for grants in the fall and a specialized committee will review all applications.

City Artist

The designation of a City Artist is a tribute to an artist in Reykjavík who, through their artistic creations, has stood out and made a mark in the Icelandic art scene.

Want to see who's been a City Artist since 1995?

Literary Awards

Reykjavík is one of UNESCO’ Cities of Literature which is great recognition of the status of literature in Reykjavík and the value of the literary arts.
The City awards three literary awards annually.

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Reykjavík Children’s Book Award

Reykjavík’s Children’s Book Award is given out every year on the last day of winter at a festive ceremony in Höfði.

Teikning Fjaðurpenni og blekbytta

Tómas Guðmundsson Literary Award

The Tómas Guðmundsson Literary Award is given out every year in memory of the poet Tómas Guðmundsson for an unpublished manuscript of a book of poetry.

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Guðrún Helgadóttir Children's Book Award

Guðrún Helgadóttir’s Children’s Book Award is given out every year for an unpublished manuscript of a book for children or youth to support literary innovation.