§ 1. General conditions

§ 1 The Nordic Council Music Prize for creative and practical music was established by the Nordic Council of Ministers on 19 April 1989. The music prize is based on the previous music prize for creative music founded jointly by the governments of the Nordic countries in accordance with Nordic Council recommendation no. 25/1964 and awarded for the first time in 1965.

Funding for the Nordic Council Music Prize and administrative costs will be provided for within the budget for the Nordic House in the Faroe Islands.

The size of the Nordic Council Music Prize will be determined during the Nordic Council of Ministers' budget process.

The present statutes may be revised on the request of the Nordic Council or the Nordic Council of Ministers.

The present statutes, and thus the Nordic Council's Music Prize, can be discontinued on the request of the Nordic Council or the Nordic Council of Ministers.

The Statutes of the Nordic Council Music Prize are laid down by the Nordic Council of Ministers (the ministers of culture) and the Nordic Council.  

§ 2 The Music Prize

The music prize will be awarded during the Nordic Session or at another equivalent occasion as decided by the Nordic Council. The prize is awarded on alternate years to creative and to practical music.

The first year the prize is awarded to a musical work by a living composer. There are no limitations on the style of music but it is a stipulation that the work should meet high artistic standards and be regarded as innovative within its genre.

The second year the prize goes to a small or large ensemble or an individual musician for stirring practical music, which is characterised as innovative and of a high artistic and technical standard. In making the assessment there will be a requirement for continuity in the work and weight will be placed on the work being regarded as innovative within its musical genre.

§ 3 The Adjudication Committee

The Nordic Council of Ministers appoints a Nordic adjudication committee which makes the decision on the prize winner. The Adjudication Committee is comprised of five ordinary members. Each of the five countries; Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden has a representative on the committee. In the event that there are entries from the autonomous territories a representative for that area has the right to take part in the work of the adjudication committee.

The Adjudication Committee's ordinary members and a substitute from each country are appointed for four years at a time. No member or substitute may sit on the committee for more than two four-year periods. They must be experts in the music of their own country and, as far as possible, also in the music of their neighbouring countries. It is assumed that the committee will collect information on music from the musical genres which are not directly represented in the committee, and maintain contact with the relevant music authorities.

§ 4 Activities

The Adjudication Committee appoints its own chairperson. The Nordic House in the Faroe Islands will act as secretariat for the Adjudication Committee.

The Adjudication Committee is in quorum when all the countries are represented at the meeting. The Adjudication Committee makes its decision based on a simple majority. The decision is taken at the latest one month before the prize-giving ceremony. The Adjudication Committee sends its decision to the Nordic Council and Nordic Council of Ministers in agreement with the time schedule drawn up by the Nordic House in the Faroe Islands. The Committee must meet once before each prize giving.

The Adjudication Committee must sent a message on its decision with the justification to the Presidium of the Nordic Council at least three weeks before the award ceremony.

The Nordic House in the Faroe Islands is responsible to ensure that all the members of the adjudication committee receive the necessary basis material.

§ 5. The Nomination Procedure

The Adjudication Committee for the Nordic Council Music Prize has the responsibility for the definitive decision regarding the music prize which it will notify to the Nordic Council and the Nordic House in the Faroe Islands.

The Adjudication Committee for the Nordic Council Music Prize has the responsibility for the definitive decision according to §2 on the basis of recommendations from the individual members of the Adjudication Committee or recommendations from the autonomous territories. Nominations are limited to a maximum of two from each nation and one from each of the autonomous territories. Nominations from the autonomous territories must be submitted by the central authority of the territory.

§ 6. Administration and finance

The Nordic House in the Faroe Islands will act as secretariat and adjudication committee for the Nordic Council Music Prize and have responsibility for the administration of the music prize.

The committee's budget year is the calendar year.

It is the responsibility of the adjudication committee to:

• determine the budget for its activities and, in co-operation with its secretariat, assume responsibility for financial administration, and

• produce annual budget proposals and present them to the Nordic Council of Ministers.
  

Reporting and administration of finances must take place in accordance with the Nordic rules for budgeting, financial administration, book-keeping and auditing, as well as with rules laid down by the Nordic Council of Ministers.