Strategy 2025-2028
Danish Cultural Institute’s Strategy 2025-2028: Key Highlights
Danish Cultural Institute (DCI) was founded in 1940 as a response to war and the authoritarian forces that ravaged Europe at the time. Today, the world faces new international challenges. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a new multipolar geopolitical order, misinformation, and climate change necessitate cooperation and new partnerships. Culture provides a way to foster equitable relationships, mutual understanding, and trust. With the 2025-2028 strategy, DCI aims to intensify efforts to strengthen the role of culture in Denmark’s international relations, demonstrating that culture can be a transformative societal force that should be integrated into solutions for global challenges.
VISION
To strengthen Denmark’s international cultural relations for the benefit of mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence, trust, and dialogue.
MISSION
To share Denmark’s culture, art, and social life through interaction with other countries, while promoting awareness of foreign cultures in Denmark, and thereby fostering understanding people-to-people and strengthening Denmark’s cultural relations worldwide.
APPROACH
We collaborate internationally with Danish and local partners on cultural projects based on cultural rights, artistic expression, democratic dialogue, youth engagement, and sustainability.
STRATEGIC GOALS FOR 2025-2028
- Expanding our reach and relevance: We will explore new geographical areas, currently focusing on the African continent, where Denmark has a pressing need to establish new connections through cultural exchange and collaboration.
- Strengthening our ties to Danish cultural life: Through partnerships with Danish cultural institutions and associations, DCI will enhance its visibility and networking role to support the international ambitions of Danish cultural life.
- Building a robust economy: We aim to develop a sustainable financial foundation to enable growth and maintain flexibility in our initiatives.
- Advocating for culture in foreign policy: We will highlight the significance of culture in foreign policy by being an outspoken advocate and documenting culture’s capacity to drive lasting societal change.
- Developing a professional project organisation: We will continue to develop a professional project organisation capable of managing large, complex international programmes with funding mechanisms, making ongoing monitoring and evaluation an integral part of our practices.
PRINCIPLES
Our work is guided by the following principles:
- In equal partnerships
We create projects and activities in close collaboration with local partners, ensuring that everyone has influence and that the collaboration is based on shared goals and ambitions.
- With mutual respect
We acknowledge and value different perspectives, values, and cultures. We work towards open dialogue, where we listen to and learn from one another.
- Knowledge-based
Our work is founded on professionalism, experience, and insight into cultural and societal conditions, enabling us to act on an informed basis.
- Culturally rights-based
We believe in the value of every individual’s equal worth and right to culture as a fundamental element of their ability to thrive and express themselves.
- Through art and culture
We draw on art and culture as a means to build bridges between people, societies, and nations, with the aim of fostering trust, dialogue, and understanding.
For 85 years, Danish Cultural Institute has been closely connected to global developments, engaging in areas where Danish interests in relationships are significant, but the context is complex and demands local knowledge. Today, we operate in 18 countries. Here, we create cultural projects, networks, and funding mechanisms aimed at fostering positive societal change and connecting people, societies, and nations.
With the 2025-2028 strategy, Danish Cultural Institute will strengthen Denmark’s cultural role globally and demonstrate that international cultural collaborations are a pathway to global stability, peaceful coexistence, and a sustainable future.
Find DCI’s full strategy for 2025-2028 here: Danish Cultural Institute’s Strategy 2025-2028
Header photo: Sisters Sensing (The World) – China by Sisters Hope. Photo credit: The Eye Fé Hedda Rysstad