KLITGAARDEN IN PERSON
Klitgaarden daily
Klitgarden is run by a small team of dedicated employees who influence and frame the stay for the users of the place. From the initial dialogue to arrival, meals, cleaning and specific operational needs in the studios. Since 2022, director Helle Stenbakken has run Klitgaarden with the following staff of employees: administrative employee Lisbeth Friis, chef Pia Wendelbo Rasmussen, nutrition assistant Anette Ejsenhardt, kitchen assistant Betina Kristensen, janitor Hans-Christian Christensen and cleaning assistant Conny Kiessling.
Klitgaarden Foundation
The purpose of the Klitgaarden Foundation is to own and operate Klitgaarden as a refuge for researchers, artists and others who need focused time to work on a project. Guests at Klitgaarden should be able to work for the benefit of the development of art and science in inspiring, calm and recreational conditions. Guests should also have the opportunity to become acquainted with the nature, history and culture of Skagen.
In 2000, grants were provided for the renovation from the EU and the Danish Forest and Nature Agency (now the Danish Palaces and Culture Agency). For the new renovation in 2025, 13.5 million were raised from, among others, the Aage and Johanne Louis-Hansen Foundation, the AP Møller and Wife Chastine McKinney Møller Foundation for General Purposes, the Augustinus Foundation, the philanthropic association Realdania, the Obelske Family Foundation, the Spar Nord Foundation, the Sportgoods Foundation and the Danish Palaces and Culture Agency.
The Foundation's Board of Directors for 2024
The foundation is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of 5 to 7 members. Two members are appointed by universities and higher education institutions (representing science), one member is appointed by the Danish Artists' Council (representing art), and one member is appointed by the Danish Bar Association. Additionally, the board may include two supplementary members.
Board of Directors:
Lars Hvilsted Rasmussen
Chairman
Dean of AAU and Professor
Member since 2019
Ryan Priest
Vice-Chairman
Member since 2009
Bjarne Werner Sorensen
Visual artist
Member since 2016
Lis Sorensen
Lawyer, Hjulmand & Kaptain
Member since 2013
Britta Graae
Project Manager
Member since 2022
Inger Askehave
Pro-Rector at CBS
Member since 2022
Klitgaarden's artist grants
Each year, Klitgaarden honors a group of artists who receive a work stay to delve into a project or develop a work. The recipients are selected by the scholarship committee based on submitted applications. There are application deadlines twice a year. In 2025, however, there is only one application deadline, September 30, due to the restoration project.
Artists can be both creative and performing – visual artists, writers, artisans, designers, musicians, actors, etc. Each grant recipient is assigned a room with a work desk and access to common spaces. Three meals a day are served, prepared on site from local ingredients. In addition, there is the opportunity to work in one of the three studios.
Requirements for scholarship applicants
To apply for the artist grant, you must be a member of a professional organization from the Danish Artists Council's member organizations or have a similar artistic background, and you must not have received a similar grant in the past two years. The artist grant covers the living expenses for two weeks, except for a personal payment of DKK 150 per day.
The application for the artist grant must include a short project description, CV (max. three standard pages) and supporting material such as images or text samples to a limited extent. Applications should be sent by email to info@klitgaarden.dk or in person to Klitgaarden Fonden, Damstedvej 39, 9990 Skagen.
The applications are processed by a grant committee. The Danish Artists' Council nominates three members to the committee, which is continuously replaced. A response is given no later than 8 weeks after the deadline.
If you are not considered for one of Klitgaarden's artist grants, an alternative is to apply for funding for a work stay yourself or pay through your own funds.
Grant recipients in 2024
Rakel Haslund-Gjerrild - Author
Lene Desmentik – Sculpture, graphics and drawing
Benjamin Fingeret Skop and Amund Bentsen - Stage directors
Mary-Ann Hansen - Textile designer
Karoline writes - Composer
Steffen Groth - Author
Anders Beyer - Journalist/author
Eva Tind - Author
Ida Kvetny - Visual artist
Kate Skjerning - Visual Artist
Kirsten Justesen - Visual artist
Laura Ringo - Author
Clara Toksvig - Ceramicist
Dorte Lilmose - Author
Malene Hartmann and Gitte Bach - Visual Artists
Martin Aitken – Translator/Author
Mette Finderup - Author
Pulsk Ravn - Graphic Designer
Tine Bay Lührssen - Visual artist
Grant recipients in 2023
Anneline S. Pedersen - Visual artist
Christina Hagen Nielsen - Author
Eva Noer Kondrup - Composer
Hesselholdt & Mejlvang - Visual Artists
Johan Furåker - Visual artist
Kerstin Norborg - Author
Mette Moestrup - Author
Signe Fensholt - Ceramicist
Anna Bruun Kristiansen - Weaver
Anne-Sofie Lunding-Sørensen - Author
Birk Bjørlo - Visual artist
Else Ploug Isaksen - Visual artist
Frederik Ømann - Actor/sound artist/composer
Helle Trolle – Textile artist and designer
Lotte Kirkeby Hansen - Author
William Kudahl - Visual artist
Grant recipients in 2022
Bo Mølgaard - Graphic designer
Maja Ingerslev – Paper artist and photographer
Victoria Cecilia - Composer
Anne Louise Blicher - Visual artist
Pulsk Ravn – Visual Artist
Mette Kit Jensen – Visual artist
Kira Messel – Author
Ulrikka Gernes – Author
Anette Højlund - Author
Birgitte Ejdrup Kristensen - Visual artist
Frigge Fri - Director & Cinematographer
Henriette Heise - Visual artist
Louise Noora Sejersen – Visual artist
Rob Durin – Composer
Trine Leonora Berg - Author
Yoko Matsumoto - Textile artist