The Nordic Council of Ministers is the official body for intergovernmental cooperation in the Nordic Region. Overall responsibility for this cooperation lies with the Nordic prime ministers. The day-to-day operations of the Council is handled by the Nordic cooperation ministers and the Nordic committee for cooperation. The Nordic Council of Ministers is a multi-faceted enterprise with numerous agreements and treaties outlining the collaboration occurring between the Nordic countries in various fields. Among these is an agreement concerning cultural cooperation intended to strengthen the cultural bonds within the Nordic community, increasing the combined effectiveness of the contracting parties' investments in education, research and cultural activities.
The Nordic Council of Ministers operates in accordance with its published Strategy for Nordic Cultural Cooperation for the years 2013-2020. Its five key themes revolve around sustainability, creativity, intercultural aspects, youth and digitalization. The strategy emphasizes the importance of communication and collaboration in cultural matters in the Nordic countries. With a broad range of matters to collaborate on, the Council is able to conjoin the efforts of the Nordic countries to address potential challenges in various sectors in an effective and comprehensive manner.
The Nordic Council of Ministers has provided fertile ground for cultural expression for decades. Multiple funds and other projects borne from the various agreements that the Council has instituted provide opportunities for individuals in different Nordic countries to generate, experience, or otherwise take part in culturally relevant activities. The Council's programs encourage the positive and healthy development of cultural activities within the Nordic countries and financially support a great number of such activities. The Council also serves as an acknowledgement of the importance of collaboration by the Nordic countries and how culture has a major impact on other areas of society, such as health, education, and employment.
In 2020, 2,149 USD is allocated to the council from Iceland (14,517 DKK). The Council's total annual budget in 2020 is 141,257 USD (954,047 DKK).